Volkswagen Financial Services has appointed two strategic fleet sales managers to help grow its market share in the large fleet sector.

Jonathan Ellis and Chris Raynsford both join the business from Lex Autolease, where they held senior business development roles managing corporate new business fleet contracts.

Together they have nearly 40 years of industry experience and their objectives will be to use their knowledge to gain more traction in the large fleet sector (200-plus vehicles) and to build awareness of the company’s multi-marque fleet offering.

Ellis will be responsible for new business in the North and Raynsford for the Southern regions. 

Ellis was with Lex Autolease, and prior to that Lloyds TSB Autolease, for more than 20 years, holding a number of roles including business development director for mega fleets (5,000-plus) and head of new business in the 50 to 500 fleet sector. 

While Raynsford also established his career at Lex Autolease, he originally started at Godfrey Davis Contract Hire in 2001 before it was acquired by the Bank of Scotland and finally by the Lex Autolease Group. Ge worked both in the mid-market and global corporate fleet sector.

Ian Tilbrook, fleet director at Volkswagen Financial Services, said: “These are both important appointments for us. It not only means that we are able to benefit from Jonathan and Chris’s knowledge and relationships, but it means that we are able to offer an environment that attracts experienced senior people. Over the last year we have made some significant wins with public sector and mid-market fleets and with these new engagements, we will be able to make a greater impact in the large corporate fleet sector.”