Bentley Motors has recruited Alasdair Stewart as its sales and marketing director, following the departure of Stuart McCullough.

Prior to his appointment, Stewart was director of sales, marketing and customer service at Bugatti, another of Volkwagen Group's luxury brands, where he had worked since 2005.

However he worked at Rolls Royce Bentley Motor Cars in 1994, becoming regional director of Bentley North America between 1998 and 2004.

Bentley said McCullough, a former Lexus executive who joined Bentley in 2006, has "left the business by mutual consent".

Bentley Motors chairman and CEO, Dr Franz-Josef Paefgen said: “It is a pleasure to welcome Alasdair back to the Bentley family. Having worked with him at Bugatti, I know he has the necessary experience, ability and enthusiasm for the high luxury automotive sector to which can be added his undoubted knowledge of the Bentley brand.

"I am sure he will settle straight back into the Crewe team and provide the leadership in sales and marketing that will inspire our dealers and customers alike.”

Stewart's role encompasses all the company’s sales and marketing activities including marketing, branded goods and global sales and aftersales including relations with Bentley’s global dealer network.

“Having spent over a decade with Bentley previously, I am obviously delighted to be coming back”, said Stewart.

“Working at Bugatti was a great experience and I leave many friends in Molsheim but the opportunity to return to Bentley and the UK was too good to refuse.

I am excited by the challenge ahead, with the first deliveries of the all-new Mulsanne imminent, the Supersports attracting new customers to the brand and the forthcoming launch of the new Continental GT, the future is very bright indeed.”