Commercial vehicle services provider Bevan Group has begun its 40th anniversary year by promoting two members of its team into new roles to help achieve its growth targets.

Roy Shelton becomes sales director while Claudia Spencer is the company’s first customer care manager.

Both are now responsible for selling and supporting the products and services of the entire Bevan Group, and not only those bodybuilding activities that have been the company’s core activity since its launch by Ron Bevan in 1976.

Under the leadership of the founder’s sons Anthony and Peter Bevan, managing director and financial director respectively, the business has undergone a number of changes.

Last year it acquired the former Stag Bodies, based in Stone, Staffordshire, and formed a new division, Bevan Specialist Products, specialising in tippers and traffic management vehicles.

This followed the acquisitions in 2010 of PG Reeves, a manufacturer of vehicle bodies for the drinks industry, and in 2014 of Supertrucks, a builder of glass carrying transport systems.

Bevan has also entered strategic partnerships with crane manufacturer HMF and temperature-controlled vehicle manufacturer Schmitz Cargobull, acquired a shareholding in accident repair and refurbishment specialist A&R Vehicle Services, and introduced Graphics and Passport (Whole Vehicle Type Approval) operations, while continuing to invest heavily in the expansion of its Aftercare division.

“This company has grown out of all recognition over the past few years and we need a new management structure that reflects this, one that will allow us to take the business to the next level,” said Anthony Bevan.

“We have embarked on a major growth strategy that will see Bevan Specialist Products move to a new production facility and double in size over the next 18 months to two years, with significant expansion also envisaged for the Supertrucks team in St Helens.

“Both highly professional individuals and committed to the Bevan cause, Roy and Claudia fully deserve their promotions.”

A former fleet engineer with BRS, Exel Logistics and DPD, Roy Shelton joined Bevan in 2010 and initially ran its Aftercare division before switching to sales. As sales director Shelton is now charged with building a new team, whose members will be supported by colleagues John Naden and Martyn Reeves.

Shelton said: “I’m relishing the challenge of this role, particularly given the new focus on selling the products and services of the entire Bevan Group, rather than just one or two individual business units, as we’ve done in the past.”

Claudia Spencer took up her first position as sales administrator with Bevan in 2007. She was then promoted to sales co-ordinator before moving into production four years ago.

She said: “My background has given me a comprehensive overview of the business. As customer care manager I will be getting out and about, representing Bevan Group on visits to operators all over the country to get their perspective on what we do well and where we can do better. It’s an amazing opportunity and I can’t wait to get started.”

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