Industry jobs: Roles filled at Continental, FMG Repair Services, Northgate, Paragon, DMN Group, Source, RH Commercial Vehicles and Close Brothers

Tracey Mortimer appointed MD of Continental Tyre Group

Continental Tyres has appointed Tracey Mortimer as managing director of its UK and Ireland tyre business.

Mortimer will take on her new role from January 1, 2025, replacing Tarik Görgün who is relocating to the US with his family. 

With over 20 years of experience in the tyre industry, holding several senior roles at Continental Tyres, Mortimer has worked extensively in both the consumer and commercial vehicle sectors. 

Her career has included roles across a range of marketing and sales functions, most recently as consumer tyres sales and solutions director UK and Ireland.

In her new role, she will be responsible for the overall business strategy and execution for the company’s tyre business across the UK and Ireland. 

She said: “Having spent many years at Continental, I’ve witnessed firsthand the passion and dedication to customer excellence of our team. I’m excited to leverage this experience to drive our business forward and deliver sustainable growth.”

Northgate announces two senior promotions 

Northgate has announced two key senior promotions to support its ‘One Road’ initiative, which enables fleets to access a range of services from all its companies through a single relationship.

Nora White (pictured above) has been promoted to Northgate Businesses Group UK&I business process optimisation director, while Spencer Davi (pictured below) has been promoted to the position as UK sales and marketing director. 

White’s role is a new one which supports the company’s ‘One Team’ ethos by creating and delivering efficient processes which allow Northgate Group businesses and their customers to interact effectively and trade openly across all brands, products, and services.

The role also encompasses the operational change team as Northgate continues to embed its ‘Customer First’ ethos in its propositions, processes and service delivery.

Davi is now responsible for all the national, regional and internal sales teams as well as the marketing and product functions. 

He will be working closely with White and her team to build the ‘Customer First’ experience while leadership of the marketing and product team enables Northgate to continue to develop and launch class-leading new products and services to its customers. 

Both are long term Northgate employees with White working for the business for over 23 years most recently as head of customer experience while Davi has worked for Northgate for more than 10 years, most recently as UK sales director.

Neil McCrossan managing director of Northgate Businesses Group UK and Ireland said: “Nora and Spencer’s appointments bring together functions under a single point of leadership, that naturally work closely together to support our businesses. This includes the teams who develop our new products and services and drive our marketing activity.

“It is the final piece of the jigsaw in our ‘One Road’ initiative that allows all Northgate customers including Blakedale, FridgeXpress and ChargedEV to access our services through a single point of contact. 

“This approach is improving the speed and quality of our decision-making and has already made a positive impact on our TrustPilot and Net Promotor Scores. We wish Nora and Spencer well in their new roles.”

FMG Repair Services appoint new operations director

FMG Repair Services has appointed Kris Hurd as operations director for bodyshops.

With 30 years of experience in the bodyshop industry, Hurd joined the FMG Repair Services team in 2022 as senior regional operations manager for the south-west, before taking on a more expansive role across the South of the country in recent months.

Paul Wrigglesworth, managing director of FMG Repair Services, said: “As operations director, Kris will focus on the day to day running of an estate of 65 bodyshops, delivering against the business plan and strategy to ensure a solid platform for service delivery, customer value and sustainable growth.  

“Kris has the critical skills and industry expertise to flourish in this very specialist role, and I’m delighted that he will continue to support the FMG Repair Services team to leverage our strength and opportunities for continued growth.”

Hurd added: “I’m delighted by the opportunity to join the FMG Repair Services’ board of directors and continuing to focus on successfully creating operational improvements and enhancements which optimise service and drive efficiencies across the broader FMGRS estate.

“I look forward to working closely with Paul and his executive team to continue to build a business that is fit for both the present and the future and puts customers at the heart of the repair process.”

Senior management changes at DMN Group

DMN Group has announced two new senior appointments with Andy Scott (pictured above) appointed general manager at DMN’s newly acquired business Specialist Vehicle Logistics (SVL) and James Hopkins, the new managing director of DMN’s Rapid Logistics business as well as joining the group board as a non-executive director.

Scott has more 30 years of experience within the automotive industry. He left Alphabet in 2022, to undertake numerous consultancy roles before being approached by DMN to run DMN Group’s Smethwick site. 

Following the SVL purchase, he was asked to manage the newly acquired company, which he accepted. 

As general manager at SVL, he will oversee the running of its logistics, refurbishment, onsite bodyshop, valeting, and mechanical operations. 

He said: “I’m on a learning curve, but it’s an exciting opportunity to come into this business and help develop the existing workforce, with up-to-date IT software systems that streamline processes and minimise paperwork, as well as develop the team’s skills.”

Although Hopkins has been consulting for DMN Group over the past 12 months, his new positions have only recently been formalised. 

In his board role, he will support the strategic, long-term development of the group and the senior leadership team.

As MD of Rapid Logistics, DMN’s blue light, vetted, logistics business, he will manage the smooth running of the metropolitan police contract as well as look to expanding into other blue, orange or red-light services. 

His background within the automotive industry spans 25 years, with previous roles held at Constellation Group and LeasePlan. 

He said: “I’ve enjoyed working with DMN over the past 12 months but am excited to delve deeper into the business to maximise the potential of the Group and Rapid Logistics.

“DMN has certainly developed its service offering over the past two years, with the introduction of Rapid Logistics, fleet services and two acquisitions - my role on the board as non-executive director is to bring a cohesiveness between all the components that now exist within DMN Group and I look forward to supporting the growing needs and demands of the business as it continues to expand.”

Paragon’s Motor Finance division announces new senior team structure

Paragon Bank’s Motor Finance division has announced a new team structure, with five promotions to senior roles within the division. 

Geoff Duncalf, who has worked at Paragon for over six years, has been promoted to head of sales, with external regional and key account managers now reporting to him. 

Duncalf and his team will continue to work closely with introducers and dealers to facilitate motor finance solutions. 

In addition, Steve Mullins, who has been with Paragon for 20 years, has been promoted to senior manager of sales and business development and will be leading the internal sales and service functions. 

From an operational perspective, David Brampton has been appointed to a newly-formed role as senior manager in operations and credit. 

Nigel Saunders, who has had a career with Paragon spanning 37 years, has also been promoted to senior manager and is responsible for ensuring the business keeps pace with the ever-changing regulatory landscape.  

Finally, Eamonn Pearson joins the team as senior development manager. He will work across both sales and operational functions and be responsible for developing Motor Finance’s longer-term proposition. 

The changes to the team come as Paragon Motor Finance recently announced the promotion of David Wilson (puictured above) to MD of the division after Julian Rance announced his retirement in September. 

Wilson said: “I’m delighted that we have been able to promote some of our team members to these new positions. It’s a testament to the culture at Paragon that we always strive to promote from within and reward our team for their hard work and dedication to the Motor Finance division.” 

“In an ever-changing marketplace, this new team structure will help us to ensure we’re supporting our introducers and clients and offering the best service we can.” 

RH Commercial Vehicles strengthens its aftersales management team

James Daykin has been appointed aftersales director of RH Commercial Vehicles (RHCV).

Daykin’s relationship with RHCV started in December 2006, when he joined as a parts apprentice in Nottingham. 

In 2009, he was promoted to parts supervisor and heavily supported the RH Freight, Rennie Hogg Transport and RH Rental fleets.

In August 2015, he became dealer point manager at the Leicester depot. Here he was instrumental in its substantial growth, increasing labour hours sold by 50% and more than doubling turnover.

In October 2018, he was appointed group parts manager, overseeing the four sites under the group at the time. A year later, he took his current role as group aftersales manager.

Edward Baxter, meanwhile, has been named as the new aftersales general manager.

He joined the business in 2012 in sales, principally working to develop the company's LCV sales offer.

In 2016, he moved into the aftersales department at the Nottingham dealership as service supervisor before he was appointed dealer point manager of Leicester in 2019. 

Nigel Baxter, managing director of RHCV, said: “These appointments are both well-deserved and is also a reflection of the growth we have generated since the reacquisition of the business from Kuehne and Nagel in early 2012.

“As we continue to expand across the Midlands it is important to build a robust management team, able to develop and support both existing and new customers and continue to build our relationship with Renault Trucks and Isuzu Truck.”

Source appoints first MD to spearhead EV charging network rollout

Source, the joint venture between TotalEnergies and SSE developing a 3,000-strong network of high-power EV charge points across the UK and Ireland, has appointed Deepa Chandrasekaran as managing director.

Her appointment aims to strengthen Source's leadership team as the company works to capture 20% market share in the rapidly expanding ultra-rapid charging sector.

She said: “I am delighted to join Source at such an exciting time for the EV charging industry.

“With our ambitious plans to expand our ultra-rapid charging network, we have a unique opportunity to redefine what great looks like for drivers, fleets, and communities across the UK and Ireland. 

“I am passionate about creating a sustainable future, and I look forward to working with the talented teams at Source, SSE, and TotalEnergies to deliver innovative, customer-focused solutions that accelerate the transition to electric mobility.”

Under Chandrasekaran’s leadership, Source will continue its rollout of strategically located charging hubs in prime urban locations, powered by renewable energy from SSE and TotalEnergies. 

The company's expansion plans include the development of 300 EV hubs featuring high-power charge points of 150kW and above.