MICHELIN has appointed Jonathan Layton as national sales manager fleet, UK and Republic of Ireland. A veteran Michelin man, Layton assumes the role after more than 15 years at the company.

The role will see Layton, 45, managing the company’s team of key account managers to ensure excellent quality of service across its car and van fleet customers – which ranges from leasing companies, utilities providers and home delivery companies, to major blue-chip multi-nationals – responsible for operating some of the largest car and van fleets in country.

He will also focus on extending the company’s premium tyre policies to prospective fleet customers.

Commenting on his new position, Layton says: “Michelin has a well-founded reputation for being at least one step ahead of the curve, and I’m delighted to be taking on my new role at such an exciting time for the business.

“Within the last 12 months our CrossClimate tyres have secured a series of major fleet industry awards, plus won acclaim from fleet managers nationwide. This year we’ll be enhancing and expanding the CrossClimate range yet further, opening up a wealth of new opportunities for this game-changing tyre generation.”

Layton joined the company in 2000 as a key account manager in the car fleet sector, before moving to the role of sales manager for Ireland in late 2003.

The position of regional sales manager for the truck tyre division followed in 2009, before three years as sales manager for the agricultural division, commencing in 2013.

Prior to joining Michelin, Layton spent a decade working in the materials handling sector at Nottingham-based Servatruc, after graduating from the University of Southampton with a degree in business and finance.

He is married with two children, and will be based at Michelin’s UK headquarters in Stoke-on-Trent, reporting to Rebeca Nieto, commercial director passenger car, light truck and 4×4, UK and Republic of Ireland.