Ford has appointed Phil Hollins as its new director of fleet operations following Kevin Griffin’s move to become commercial vehicle director for Ford of Europe.

Both appointments are effective January 1, 2013. Griffin has headed up Ford’s fleet department since 2003.

Hollins joined Ford as a graduate trainee in 1985. He held a variety of sales and marketing roles in Ford of Britain before moving to the US in 1994 and then to Ford of Canada as cross vehicle line marketing manager in 1996.

He returned to the UK as director marketing Ford Credit and he was appointed director dealer operations Ford of Britain in 1999.

His Ford of Europe responsibilities include director European retail management, in 2002, and his current role as director product marketing, which he took up in 2010.

Mark Ovenden, Ford of Britain managing director, said: "Phil will be a great addition to our team; he brings a wealth of experience in the global automotive business to Ford of Britain’s fleet operations.

"He will build on the excellent foundations provided by Kevin who has established a highly successful, disciplined approach to all areas of fleet sales that has matched market leading results with solid business returns."