Renault Retail Group (RRG) has appointed Len Curran as its new managing director.

He replaces Stuart Walker, who, after 32 years will leave the Renault group on April 22 to "pursue other interests".

Curran (53) will oversee Renault Retail Group’s Renault and Nissan sites in the UK that now include the recently launched Dacia brand. He returns to the UK following two and a half years in India, where he was vice president, sales and marketing.

Curran has more than 30 years experience in the motor industry, both at dealer and corporate level. Among his previous roles have been stints at Unipart and Fiat, as well as Renault UK’s manager, commercial operations in 2001.

From there, he moved to RRG, formerly Reagroup UK, Renault’s wholly-owned retail sales operation network, in 2004 as southern divisional director, prior to becoming director, commercial operations at Renault UK for four years from July 2006.

Curran said: "I’m excited to be taking on this latest challenge within the Renault Group. Renault has taken tough and courageous decisions in order to weather the effects the economy had on the UK car market.

"Thanks to this, we now enter 2013 with a new brand in Dacia, the stunning New Clio as well as a range of electric vehicles and Europe’s leading van range. We’ve got a great team at RRG, a great manufacturer team at Renault and a product line up that is outstanding in terms of design, quality and value. I am looking forward to the challenge of 2013 with enthusiasm and optimism."