Fiat dealers in the UK can expect another round of meet-and-greets in the next few months as they are introduced to yet another Fiat Group UK managing director.

Current incumbent Giulio Salomone is heading back to the carmaker’s global headquarters in Italy after just 30 months leading the UK sales operation.

From tomorrow (November 1), Andrew Humberstone will be in the managing director’s seat at Fiat Group’s base in Slough. Humberstone was previously chief representative for Fiat Group China and vice-chairman of Nanjing Fiat. He’s also worked in India, South Africa and the Middle East.

Industry observers have questioned Fiat’s policy of reshuffling country managers so soon. One told AM: “After sorting out the legacy of issues with the brand on arrival, Salomone has barely had a year of implementing his own plans in the UK before he’s moved on. It will be tough for the dealers to understand the carmaker’s strategy if it changes constantly along with the senior management.”

Salomone replaced Jose Antonio Garvia in September 2005. Garvia himself replaced Masimo Tosa, who left in January 2005 after 30 months.


Andrew Humberstone