THE Colt Car Company, official importer of Mitsubishi vehicles to the UK, has axed more than 50 jobs at its head office during the first stage of its company restructuring which has also seen a new general manager group formed. This comes after months of upheaval within the management of Mitsubishi UK.

Managing director Stephen Dixon has departed, as have director of sales Andrew Wenzel, director of marketing Colin Pearce and, most recently, corporate sales manager David Lingwood, who has been replaced by new general manager of fleet and used cars Matthew Cheyne. In addition a further 19 employees selected for redundancy accepted alternative positions within the company and 11 employees who volunteered for the enhanced redundancy package will leave to an 'agreed timetable'.

Acting managing director Denis Murphy says now the first phase of the restructuring is over the 11 new general managers will begin forming a new business strategy. He says the 'streamlining' of the business has been forced by the impact of grey imports and the practice of pre-registration by leading manufacturers causing a flood of nearly new cars on to the market. Murphy says he will head the new general manager group, which will provide an open channel of communication between the management board and company employees.