Following its expansion to a nine-dealership group this month, Colt Cars Mid West has appointed Rob Ayland as managing director.

Ayland, who was previously Colt’s general manager, will be responsible for more than 200 members of staff and reports to Jim Tyrrell, managing director of the Colt Car Company.

Ayland says: “Managing the business will be different as it grows. As a member of the board my job has also changed in terms of having more autonomy to make decisions.”

Over the last year Colt Cars Mid West has added sites in Weston-super-Mare, Dursley in south Gloucestershire, Melksham in Wiltshire and most recently Chertsey in south-west London. Ayland says this should bring the turnover from £55m in 2006 to £75m in 2007.

Colt, which also has a bodyshop in Cirencester, could expand further this year as it has received the green light from Mitsubishi to grow to a 12-site group. It will fill in gaps along the M4 from London to Bristol.