Imperial Commercials has appointed Daniel Fitzjohn and Vincente Connolly in regional director roles, as they join an “increasingly youthful” senior team.

Both Fitzjohn and Connolly have previously worked at a senior level at Mercedes-Benz, and will develop the DAF Trucks marque in the Western and Birmingham regions.

The pair will report to newly-appointed managing director Matt Lawrenson, who has 12 years’ experience and managerial progression with Imperial, a move that the company feels "underlines the youthful vitality of the senior team".

Lawrenson said: “I’m genuinely thrilled that Imperial Commercials has been able to attract not one, but two, exceptional individuals of the calibre of Daniel and Vincente.

“Both have outstanding CVs, and both demonstrate the prerequisite drive and dynamism to stimulate significant business growth in our strategically important Western and Birmingham regions.”

Having formerly worked at Imperial’s Bristol site, Fitzjohn’s focus now is overseeing the DAF brand’s sales, service and parts activities from six locations within Imperial Commercials’ Western Region – the largest region within the dealer group.

“This was an opportunity too good to miss,” said Fitzjohn.

“Imperial Commercials has a very strong foothold and a tremendous reputation in the truck industry, and DAF Trucks’ dominance of the market is unrivalled for over two decades. Credentials like these are a huge attraction.

“There are many key infrastructure projects – particularly around the M4 / M5 corridor – where we are already busy looking at opportunities to develop the DAF brand through providing industry leading service levels to new and existing DAF customers in the area.”

Connolly worked with Mercedes-Benz for 25 years, spending the last 13 years at its head office.

Connolly said: “The challenge of developing the market-leading DAF brand is a key motivator for me.

"Joining the largest DAF Dealer group in the UK and Europe, is made even more attractive with the support we are afforded by Imperial Holdings – a truly global organisation – meaning we can provide DAF operators with unrivalled service levels.

“As the country’s second city, and as the beating heart of the UK’s transport network, Birmingham provides us with a huge opportunity to grow the business organically.

Pictured: (L) Daniel FitzJohn and Vincente Connolly 

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