Wayne Stevens has been named as managing director of GS Yuasa Battery Sales UK. The company says he brings with him a wealth of business and leadership experience across different market sectors and his background positions him as an ideal leader to drive GS Yuasa Battery Sales UK Ltd. forward in its continued pursuit for growth and innovation.
Andy Gratton has been promoted to managing director at Ring Automotive, the UK subsidiary of ams OSRAM. He takes over from Theresa Spencer who leaves the company at the end of August 2023, to pursue a new challenge outside the automotive aftermarket. Gratton is currently Ring’s financial director and formally assumed the MD role as of 1 July. Theresa Spencer will remain in the business until 31 August to support the hand-over process.
Ian Maynard has been appointed managing director of Wheely-Safe (UK), a new, wholly-owned franchise launched to manage sales and aftersales for the automotive technology firm within its home market. It marks the first stage in ambitious new growth plans by parent company Wheely-Safe, part of GX2 Technology, to expand with franchises in key international markets. Each franchise will have access to the full suite of award-winning Wheely-Safe systems, which combine protection against wheel loss with brake/hub temperature monitoring and an intelligent tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS).
Debbie Barnes has been promoted to managing director of Liqui Moly’s UK subsidiary, responsible for national operations. She intends to continue the successful development of the lubricant company in the United Kingdom. Barnes has been part of the Liqui Moly team for seven years and was most recently regional sales manager and national key account manager at Liqui Moly UK. In her new position as managing director, she is now responsible for the operational business of the Liqui Moly subsidiary. She strengthens the management team, which has included Dr Uli Weller, managing director of the parent company, and Salvatore Coniglio, Liqui Moly export director, since the company was founded.
Piotr Czyzyk has been appointed managing director for Goodyear South Africa. Czyzyk has served Goodyear in a number of roles and markets for the past 17 years, most recently as PBU commercial director in Europe. There Czyzyk was responsible for overseeing the Central Europe operation, garnering keen insights into the global market, consumer behavior, as well as the shifting dynamics of demand and supply.
Formula One Autocentres has appointed Jon Butcher as its new managing director. The long-standing employee started as a tyre technician at its second depot in Rayleigh in 1987. Butcher climbed the ranks to become assistant manager, then manager, area manager and general manager before joining the board as sales director in 2005.
Hella has appointed Neil Grant as its new UK managing director. Grant will begin his latest role in January 2020. He has been the financial director (FD) of Hella UK, based in Chipping Warden, for four years. He will take over from current MD, Matthew Say, who has been leading the UK operation for the past four and a half years.
Jun Ro Song was appointed president of Kumho Tire Europe on 1 January, 2019. He succeeds Kyungtai Ju, who has returned to Korea. The 53-year-old has held numerous positions with the Korean tyre manufacturer for almost 30 years.
Vehicle management leader, LeasePlan has announced changes at the top of its business – with LeasePlan UK’s current managing director Matt Dyer appointed as president and chief executive officer of LeasePlan USA, and current LeasePlan Italy managing director, Alfonso Martínez stepping into the managing director role in the UK.
Leading UK tyre group, European Tyre Enterprise Ltd (ETEL), has announced a series of promotions within its senior management, including the appointment of a new CEO following Kenji Murai’s promotion to a global position with parent company, Itochu.
Namwook (NW) Jung was appointed the new managing director of Kumho Tire Europe GmbH in Offenbach am Main on 1 December, 2017, replacing Steve Yeom. He is responsible for the replacement business in Germany, Switzerland and the Benelux.
Goodyear Dunlop Tires Europe has appointed of Xavier Fraipont to the position of managing director, motorsport and motorcycle EMEA. Fraipont, formerly director, consumer tyre technology EMEA, replaces Sanjay Khanna, who has been appointed consumer sales and marketing director for emerging markets.
Goodyear Dunlop marketing director consumer EMEA Hans Vrijsen has been appointed the new general manager for UK and Ireland of Goodyear Dunlop Tires UK. Vrijsen succeeds Erich Fric, who has been appointed consumer PBU sales & marketing director for Western Europe.
Andy Barratt has been appointed chairman and managing director, Ford of Britain, from July 1, 2015, succeeding Mark Ovenden who has been appointed president and CEO, Ford Sollers, the joint venture of Ford Motor Company and JSC Sollers in Russia.
Shingo Sakashita, 46, has been appointed finance director Falken Tyre Europe, the European affiliate of Japanese tyre manufacturer Sumitomo Rubber Industries. Sakashita joins the management team in Offenbach am Main (Germany), assuming the position of finance director, alongside Isamu Ishida, Koji Fukuhara and Hidekazu Nishiguchi.
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GS Yuasa
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