ROVER'S corporate sales director for the past five years, Steve Harris, is leaving to take up a new post with the BMW Group in South Africa. Harris, who has already been shuttling between the UK and his new base in Johannesburg, officially takes up the job of regional director African sales for the BMW Group next month.

He will be responsible for BMW, Rover and Land Rover products in 30 different markets. He told Fleet NewsNet: 'I am looking forward to the move because it will be a real change. I will be responsible for everything in the market - sales, servicing, marketing and advertising.'

Harris, who has been with Rover for 26 years, has spent the last 12 in fleet, with the exception of a three-year spell with Land Rover Finance. Initially he was regional fleet manager in the Midlands and the north, before becoming corporate sales director. Ironically Harris's departure, alongside that of managing director Jim Macdonald, who is moving out of the industry comes as Rover hopes it has turned the corner after more than a year of uncertainty. Harris's replacement is expected to be announced shortly.