Jean-Gabriel Carlier has been named Renault Retail Group UK managing director, replacing Bob Bennett who has left the company.

Mr Carlier, previously Renault director of special sales at the French head office, will oversee internal restructuring at the wholly-owned dealer group as it seeks to boost sales across its European operations.

A spokesman dismissed suggestions that Mr Bennett had been moved aside to make way for the trouble-shooting Frenchman. “Bob wanted to do something different. We offered him alternative positions within Renault, but he decided to leave,” he said.

Renault Retail Group turnover last year dropped £10m on 1999, to £606m, caused by falling car prices, but is forecast to rise this year.