Mark Hawkins becomes new head of fleet at Renault

Renault has named Mark Hawkins as its new head of fleet, replacing Mark Dickens who becomes managing director of Elexent, a Renault-owned firm providing companies with electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions.

Hawkins has worked for Groupe Renault UK for more than 27 years, most recently in the role of head of dealer network development and performance.

He also has spent five years as head of business sales Pro+ and two years as sales director for Renault Australia.

Dickens, who has been with Groupe Renault UK for 25 years, will use his fleet experience to drive forward the manufacturer’s EV charging business with corporate customers.

The change at the helm of Renault’s fleet team comes alongside a number of senior personnel appointments, all of which are designed to help the organisation transition into a new phase of growth and restructuring as outlined in the recently unveiled Renaulution strategy.

As part of this strategy, Groupe Renault will be divided into four separate business units: Renault, Dacia, Alpine and Mobilize.

In this new brand-dedicated organisational structure, Adam Wood is appointed as Dacia brand director in the north territory, including UK, Ireland, Malta, where he now takes overall responsibility for all activities of the Dacia brand and its performance in the UK.

His new role is the latest in his near 15-year career with Groupe Renault UK and sees him progress from his previous position of group marketing director.

Louise O’Sullivan takes over as marketing director. She has worked for Groupe Renault UK for over 25 years, most recently in the role of network operations director.

Having recently marked his 25th anniversary with Groupe Renault UK, Tim Marriott takes up the role of sales director. He moves from his previous position of after sales director, through which he supported the brand’s network of 148 main franchise dealers and 220 service points.

Since joining Groupe Renault UK in February 2020, Mark Thomason has been promoted to the role of director, quality and service. He takes over from Jean-Philippe Roubles, who will help Thomason settle into his new role before returning to the Groupe Renault HQ, located in Paris, in June.

Completing the senior personnel appointments is that of Maxine Bonwick, who joins Groupe Renault UK as HR director.

Vincent Tourette, managing director of Groupe Renault UK, said: “As per the Renaultution strategy, our brands are now entering into a new phase which is designed to secure our long-term plans for growth and provide our customers with sustainable mobility solutions that are both innovative and affordable.

“These key personnel changes will help our UK operation to deliver what is expected of us in the future, with those appointed to the roles having vast automotive industry experience and many having already been with Groupe Renault UK for upwards of a decade. I am certain that all will be even more successful in their new roles within the organisation.”

All the new appointments are effective from today (April 1).