VOLVO’S Jon Wakefield is to be acting managing director, effective 1 July as Nick Connor moves to be chief executive of Polestar.

Jon Wakefield has worked for Volvo in the UK for nearly four years as sales director, joining the brand in 2012 from Fiat Group where he had worked as Sales Director across the Fiat and Alfa Romeo brands.

2015 saw Volvo Car UK’s most successful sales year for over 20 years, contributing to a strong global performance with the brand registering more than half a million cars globally for the first time in its history.

This year is expected to bring further sales growth as the eagerly anticipated new Volvo V90 estate and new Volvo S90 saloon arrive in the UK later this year, while concept images for the new 40 series have also just been released.

Boosting the company’s growth has been the new XC90 with a range of powertrain solutions that offer low taxation for company car users as well an array of class-leading new safety features.