JLR enhances retail operations with new sales chief

Jaguar Land Rover has appointed Angela Shepherd as its new sales director to drive the car maker's retail transformation.

Shepherd's role will involve integrating various teams within the sales function, such as volume planning, new and used car sales, and fleet and business operations to strengthen collaboration with JLR’s retail partners, enhancing performance and refining the client purchase journey.

The objective is to streamline sales processes to ensure that retailers can focus on delivering seamless, high-end client experiences.

Shepherd brings 34 years of experience in the automotive industry, having begun her career at Mercedes-Benz. She has held leadership roles across sales and marketing and has led several transformation projects in network development and aftersales.

She gained direct retail experience as CEO of Mercedes-Benz Retail Group and held a key position at Stellantis’s Stellantis & You.

Her experience with agency models in premium brands aligns with JLR’s plan to develop a hybrid retail model that blends elements of traditional franchise and agency approaches.

Shepherd will work closely with UK managing director Patrick McGillycuddy and customer experience director Costa Delis who will together focus on improving both in-person and digital client experiences, driving forward JLR’s transformation into a more luxury-focused brand.

Shepherd said: "I'm passionate about building a strong, symbiotic relationship with the network to provide the highest standards, reflective of the luxury sector... Together, we will deliver this significant retail transformation, which places our exceptional brands and our clients at the heart of it."