Ian Plummer has become Volkswagen Passenger Cars UK’s new head of retail operations weeks after quitting a similar role at Renault UK.

Plummer started his new role at the company’s UK headquarters in Milton Keynes on February 1.

He fills a vacancy created by Alex Smith’s recent move to become director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

At Renault, where he had worked for the past 15 years, Plummer held a wide range of roles at both the company’s Paris HQ and in the UK.

His resignation from the French brand at the end of December was unconnected with the restructuring of its entire UK business.

He has a strong retail background, having been managing director of Renault Retail Group UK, where he restored the manufacturer-owned dealer group to profitability, before becoming the director of commercial operations for Renault UK.

One significant Renault dealer described Plummer as “an accomplished manager” and said his appointment will benefit the Volkswagen network.

Plummer said: “I am thrilled to be joining a brand with such a huge pedigree as well as ambition, and at what is a very exciting time given the pending arrival of a number of new products including the Up.”