MAZDA has appointed Emma Hill as its new corporate sales manager with the aim of turning its fleet fortunes around. The importer has blamed the absence of a fleet boss for a plunge in its fleet sales from 7,249 in 1998 for the period January to June to 6,199 for the same period this year. The desk had remained empty for nine months following the departure of Trevor Houghton-Berry who now heads the LCV division.

Hill, who is based at the car distributor's Tunbridge Wells headquarters, said: 'My team needs to show company car drivers just how good Mazdas are - to live with and to drive.' Before joining Mazda, she was the brand manager for Rover 75 and has many years' experience in both sales and marketing disciplines in the motor industry.