Kia had appointed Michael Cole, formerly Sales Director for Toyota GB, as new UK Managing Director.

Current Managing Director, Paul Philpott (pictured) will leave Kia to become Chief Operating Officer for its European head office.

Philpott will be leaving for Frankfurt in August and will be responsible for all of Kia's pan-European operations including sales, marketing and aftersales.

He will also manage relations with the company's manufacturing operations in Zilina, Slovakia where the Cee'd and Sportage are built.