Bob Lowden leaves Iveco after six months as MD

After just six months as managing director of Iveco, Bob Lowden has left the company in a surprise move "to pursue other activities". 

He is being replaced by Stuart Webster, who will assume responsibility for the UK and Ireland.

Webster takes over the role of MD after 18 months as marketing director of CNH Industrial Financial Services, covering the whole of Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Prior to this he spent nearly two years as regional director for Iveco Capital between 2012 and 2013, heading the company’s financial activities in Benelux, France, Germany, Nordics and UK, following more than six years as managing director of Iveco Capital Ltd in the UK.

An Iveco spokesman said: "He brings with him an extensive knowledge and understanding of Iveco, its product range and customer base within the UK, having worked closely with the Iveco team and dealer network over many years."

Lowden's sudden departure from Iveco comes as a shock as he was seen as a highly experienced mover and shaker in the commercial vehicle world at the time of his appointment last December.

In an exclusive interview with Fleet News in January, he revealed big plans to bring the Iveco name to the high street by opening 15 new outlets in the UK in 2015, with more to come in future years. At present Iveco has 63 dealers across the UK and a further 30 service points which do not sell vehicles.

At the time, Lowden said: "Some of these could be among the service outlets and we are also looking for entrepreneurs who feel they could make a business by setting up a Daily centre. Small fleets and retail buyers will not travel long distances to buy vans and have them serviced and we simply have to have more centres."