New Seat UK head of aftersales Nigel Griggs is looking to the brand’s franchised network to “get the basics right and make sure we don’t get sidetracked” as the latest Ibiza leads the arrival of new models.

In April, Seat started moving field managers to different areas to widen their experience and gain a fresh perspective.

“The idea is for our managers and dealers to view the Seat experience through the eyes of our customers,” said Griggs. “I have always regarded focus as the key to success in aftersales, and my job is to help improve loyalty to the Seat brand through making the customer experience better.”

Griggs moved to Seat after almost 25 years with GM, where he headed Vauxhall’s 35-strong aftersales sales operations team.

“I believe there is a greater disparity within the Seat network than in Vauxhall’s in the way dealers provide aftersales,” he said.

“This is to be expected because Vauxhall has been around longer, and is a volume seller.”

Griggs was initially approached informally by Seat UK director Peter Wyhinny, who said: “I know he will bring his considerable experience to bear on this crucially important area over the coming months.”

After joining Vauxhall as a commercial apprentice in 1983, Griggs widened his experience in sales and aftersales.

In 2003, he began a three-year assignment for GM Europe, launching an extension of the UK Trade Club Programme in eight major European markets.

Griggs replaces Gary Wells who has left Seat UK to work for Volkswagen in India.