Kia has appointed Dave Williams as head of fleet, following the retirement of John Hargreaves.
Williams will take the role from 1st July, after 20 years at Kia.
In those 20 years, he has held a number of roles, ranging from national dealer marketing manager, to regional business manager – before taking his previous role as area manager for The South in October 2017.
Williams (pictured, left) said: “It has been my privilege to work for Kia over the past 20 years, and I very much look forward to returning to the fleet side of the business.
“The key to that success has been the people: the team and leadership, of which John has been integral.
“He has led the fleet team with incredible knowledge and foresight – something I hope to emulate as Kia enters its next chapter.
“One of the things I am most proud of during my time at Kia is people and personal development, which is something I hope to continue as Head of Fleet.”
Prior to joining Kia, Williams had 15 years of experience in the automotive sector, mainly in sales and management roles.
The appointment comes as Kia looks to build a more complete fleet offering, with a Fleet Management System (FMS) currently under development, and the firm aiming to continue its Kia Business Service Promise.
Williams will be tasked with overseeing the integration of the EV4 and EV5, as well as the PV5, the brand’s first van, into fleets, and managing Kia Rental, Motability and remarketing.
He added: “I am very grateful to John for leaving the role in such a healthy position, which is testament to his exceptional stewardship of the role, and at a time when Kia is breaking sales records on an almost monthly basis and with a whole host of exciting new products to launch over the next few years.
“Finally, I very much look forward to leading the team and I wish John every heartfelt success and best wishes for the future and his retirement.”
Since becoming head of fleet in 2011, Hargreaves oversaw Kia’s expansion in the fleet market, during a period where the brand’s annual sales doubled.
Hargreaves (pictured, right) said: “I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together during my time at Kia, having taken the company from the relatively small manufacturer that it once was, to becoming one of the most recognised and admired car brands in the UK.
“This is in no small part due to the hard work and dedication of the entire fleet team whom I’ve had the pleasure of leading, and who I am pleased to leave in such capable hands.
“Dave brings a great wealth of expertise to the role and I have every confidence in his ability to continue driving innovation in the fleet team for years ahead.”
