FORD OF BRITAIN APPOINTS NEW FLEET DIRECTOR

Nick Themistocleous has been appointed director, fleet operations Ford of Britain, succeeding Phil Hollins, who has held the role since 2012. Phil has been appointed commercial vehicles director, Ford of Europe. Both appointments are effective February 1, 2015.

Nick joined Ford Credit as a graduate trainee in 1986. He held a variety of sales, marketing and financial roles in Ford of Britain including UK fleet marketing manager before moving to Germany in 2003 as the European fleet and leasing director. Nick returned to the UK in 2006 as the operations manager in aftersales before taking up his current role as sales district manager.

Born in Halifax, Nick is married with three children and lives in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. He is a keen sportsman and enjoys coaching football at junior level and is currently with Tonbridge Junior U11s.

Mark Ovenden, Ford of Britain chairman and managing director, said: "Nick is ideally suited to this position and will be a great addition to our team. He will bring a fresh perspective to the role with his extensive knowledge of our Ford dealer network and background in both Ford of Britain and Ford of Europe fleet sales. Nick will build on the excellent foundations provided by Phil as we move into the launch of new Focus, new Mondeo and continue to benefit from our industry-leading range of commercial vehicles."

For 2014, Ford was the number one manufacturer for the net fleet car market with 10.6 per cent share, up 7,300 vehicles on 2013. Ford also increased its commercial vehicle market leadership with 27.4 per cent of fleet sales – more than the next two rivals combined.

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About Ford of Europe

Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs approximately 47,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and approximately 67,000 people when joint ventures and unconsolidated businesses are included. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 22 manufacturing facilities (13 wholly owned or consolidated joint venture facilities and nine unconsolidated joint venture facilities). The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.co.uk

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