DaimlerChrysler UK Ltd has combined several of its internal departments to form a new corporate sales operation.

The changes mean that new and existing passenger car corporate customers will retain their brand-dedicated sales contacts for each of the company's four car brands (Chrysler, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz and Smart). However, back office administrative functions will be shared.

Heading the new department is Nick Ratcliffe, formerly general manager corporate sales for Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars. He said: "By bringing all our corporate colleagues into one team, we can offer our customers a higher, more consistent level of service than before. Customers will continue to do business with a brand-specific team, but that will also be supported behind the scenes by a single, larger administrative function than before.

"Many of our customers already buy more than one of our brands, so it is a natural progression to pool our back office resources. We can now offer a more co-ordinated approach to our customers, and use the expertise previously restricted to a single brand throughout the business."

Customers in the contract hire, rental and leasing industries, Mr Ratcliffe said, will be dealt with on a multi-brand basis, “which means we can approach them once as opposed to four times".

Each of the brands will have dedicated teams, headed by corporate sales managers, all of whom have been appointed from within DaimlerChrysler UK Ltd.

Pat Cambage is now responsible for Mercedes-Benz and Smart, while Chrysler and Jeep are managed by Mike Arthur, and Brian Luff becomes leasing and rental manager.