Industry jobs: Roles filled at Assurant, Osprey Charging, Mobilize and Continental

Assurant appoints new RAC client director

Lee Comber has been appointed to the new role of RAC client director at Assurant, which partners with the RAC in the warranty and aftersales sector.

Coomber will be responsible for relationships with independent dealers across the RAC Dealer Network.

He will also be responsible for growing the network by attracting more car, van and motorcycle retailers and developing proposition opportunities – including the recently launched suite of RAC Cosmetic Insurance and RAC Electric Vehicle Warranty, designed for the growing electric vehicle (EV) market.

Assurant said Coomber has a career in the automotive sector dating back more than 15 years, having previously led sales team for CDK Global, Dealerweb and Eurotax Glass’s.

Coomber will work alongside Kellie Grocott, RAC director of sales at Assurant and report to Sean Kent, UK automotive director at Assurant.

Kent said: “We are very pleased to welcome Lee to Assurant and the RAC Dealer Network.

“He has an excellent track record in the automotive sector and I’m sure he will prove to be an asset to our organisation.

“The last year has been tough for the independent dealer market for obvious reasons but the future looks brighter and his appointment underlines our ambition to not only grow the network but further enhance the support we provide to our current dealers.”

Osprey Charging appoints Alex Bamberg as non-executive director

Osprey Charging has appointed Alex Bamberg, former managing director of GeniePoint, as its new non-executive director.

Bamberg will also become a senior advisor of Via Novus, Osprey’s holding company.

As founder of ChargePoint Services, which operated the GeniePoint charging network, Bamberg oversaw GeniePoint’s growth to over 400 charging sites, securing strategic EV charging partnerships with landlord partners such as UK forecourt operator Motor Fuel Group (MFG), Morrisons Supermarket and the owner of the hotel brand, Whitbread, said Osprey.

The company said Bamberg’s experience will be ‘significant’ in supporting it in securing new relationships with key landowners and businesses, enabling the network’s roll-out of charge points throughout the UK.

Ian Johnston, chief executive officer at Osprey Charging, said: “With the UK moving towards mass EV adoption ahead of the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles, the race is now on for charging networks to deploy public charging infrastructure.

“Alex’s impressive experience and long-standing commitment to the growth of the EV market will help us expand and maintain our focus on providing drivers with a reliable, high quality charging experience.”

Bamberg said: “Having been at the forefront of deploying the UK’s first national charging networks – Electric Highway and GeniePoint, I look forward to bringing my industry experience to Osprey to fast-track the rollout of EV charging across the country and to build on their already impressive portfolio of partners in the retail, hospitality and local authority sectors.”

Mobilize expands its team 

Mobilize Power Solutions UK, the recently launched provider of turnkey EV charging infrastructures and services, has appointed two EV professionals, Ben Grocott and Alistair Decent, to help grow the business. 

Grocott has been recruited as the UK e-mobility manager, where he will be working closely with corporate and fleet sales teams within Renault UK and other automotive organisations, enabling them to provide EV charging solutions to their fleet and business customers.

He has over nine years’ experience working in the EV industry. Starting at Nissan, when it launched the Leaf, Grocott educated drivers in the benefits of owning an EV. 

One of his greatest achievements, said Mobilize, was developing and launching the UK’s first EV Experience Centre in Milton Keynes, which provided first-hand EV driving experiences.

Mobilize said Grocott will use his knowledge to help businesses get the most out of owning and managing electric fleets. 

Decent joins the company as UK project manager. He comes from a technical and customer service background and has worked in the EV industry for seven years, said Mobilize.

Decent helped deliver the Amazon logistics fleet electrification project, ensuring that over 900 charging stations were installed during the global pandemic, in time for the Christmas 2020 peak.

Continental Tyres appoints new customer tyre sales and solutions director

Continental Tyres has announced the appointment of Tracey Mortimer as consumer tyres sales and solutions director UK and Ireland.

In her new role, based at Continental’s UK head office in West Drayton, Mortimer will have overall sales responsibility for the consumer tyres business area, which includes car, van and 4x4 tyres across all channels in the UK and ROI.

Mortimer started her career at Continental Tyre Group 18 years ago as marketing communications manager and has worked her way up through the company in various marketing positions across both consumer and commercial vehicle sectors to marketing director UK and Ireland, a role which she started back in May 2017, said Continental.

David Smith, managing director at Continental Tyre Group, said: “Tracey’s wealth of knowledge and significant experience to date with all customer groups, across both consumer and commercial channels, will prove of great value to the business.

“I am confident Tracey’s impeccable leadership and collaboration skills will play a pivotal role in further strengthening our customer focus and prove invaluable in helping the company achieve its goals.”

Hulsteins appoints new MD for UK and Ireland

Swedish and UK sustainable refrigeration systems manufacturer, Hultsteins has appointed Graham Usher as managing director for the UK and Ireland.

With over 30 years’ experience in the CV industry, Usher has been working with Hultsteins over the last 18 months to prepare for the wide-scale introduction of its hydraulic refrigeration systems and hybrid generators.

Commenting from Hultsteins in Sweden, director Börje Axelsson, said: “We are delighted to have someone of Graham’s calibre and experience to spearhead our strategic growth plans for the UK and Ireland.

“His industry knowledge and technical know-how will go a long way to matching Hultsteins sustainable refrigeration solutions to operator needs throughout the cold chain sector.”

WeFlex appoints new chief financial officer

Electric ride hailing provider, WeFlex, has appointed senior finance director, Lester Loh, to join its leadership team as chief financial officer.

Loh, a 35-year finance veteran, spent eight years at EY and almost two decades at Serco Group, focusing on corporate finance, commercial, technology, outsourcing, restructuring and business transformation in small, medium-sized and large organisations.

The company said he joins at a time where WeFlex has struck up new partnerships with Kia, Nissan and MG to bring new EVs into London’s ride hailing market.

Founder and CEO Nicko Williamson said: “Lester is a great addition to the team at a time where business is booming and ride hailing drivers cannot wait to get a set of EV keys from us so they can get onto the roads in a brand new EV.

“As we ramp up, we needed a first rate experienced chief financial officer to take ownership of the financial aspects of our business.”