Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has appointed former Ford man Hans Rutlin as head of customer service and network development.

Filling the role vacated by Rose Butterworth, who has moved to another role within the Volkswagen Group, Rutlin will be responsible for customer service in the Van Centre network and the brand’s Customer Services Centre.

He will also work on the size, structure and success of the Van Centre and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Authorised Repairer network in the UK and the people who are employed within it.

Carl zu Dohna, director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said: "I’m delighted that Hans has chosen to take on a new challenge within the brand. The experience he has built up over the past three years will be invaluable in his new role."

Rutlin was previously head of planning and supply for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, a position he had held since April 2013.

He joined the Volkswagen Group in 2012 as commercial operations manager having previously held a variety of roles within Ford Motor Company.

Taking over from Rutlin as head of planning and supply is Nick Colledge.

Colledge joins the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand from Harley-Davidson, where he had been commercial operations manager for the emerging markets since September 2013.

Dohna added: "I am looking forward to welcoming Nick to the brand at an exciting time. Having successfully launched the new Transporter and Caddy models last year, we are now preparing for the introduction of the new Amarok and all-new Crafter. Nick’s past experience and new ideas will make him an asset to the team."