The founder of successful property marketing website Rightmove, Ed Williams, has become Auto Trader's chairman.

Williams founded Rightmove in 2000 and drove its success, guiding it into the FTSE 250 before retiring as its chief executive last year.

He has been on the Auto Trader board as a non-executive director since November 2010.

Tom Hall, outgoing Auto Trader chairman and partner at Apax Partners, the private equity firm that owns Auto Trader, said: “Ed’s track record at Rightmove is outstanding.  We are delighted that he is bringing his experience to ensure that Auto Trader continues to be the first place for car buyers to find their next car and the first place car dealers go to in order to reach their customers. 

“Having sat with Ed on the Auto Trader board for the past three years, I am confident he will bring the perfect combination of continuity, innovation and independent thinking.”

2014 will be the first year that Auto Trader is a 100% digital business.

Williams said: “Ten years ago, when Rightmove was frequently described as the “Auto Trader for property”, little did I dream that I would have this opportunity to help a business that I have always hugely admired.

"Focused solely on our customers, there is so much we can be doing to help car buyers and car dealers alike.”