Simon Hetherington, currently Kia Motors (UK) marketing director, has been appointed to the newly created role of dealer development director and will take up his new challenge at the start of July.

Since joining the company in 2007 from Toyota GB, Hetherington has steered the company's increased public profile through a strong strategic development of both the product line-up and a marketing communications programme.

He will now lead a just-announced department aimed at strengthening the dealer network's customer experience focus, the business development of existing and new dealers and the provision of support and services to support dealership profitability as well as continuing Kia's dramatic network growth and the introduction of a new corporate identity to be rolled out over the next three years.

Managing director Michael Cole said: "Simon has done a huge job leading the brand's market profile over the past four years and I am confident that he will bring all of that experience to bear in helping to enhance the capabilities of our dealer partners. If we are to hit our goals over the next few years we have to deliver an outstanding customer experience - to match our seven year warranty, vehicle design and quality standards."
 

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