Volvo Car UK has appointed Jon Wakefield as managing director, with immediate effect.

The appointment sees him assume overall responsibility for Volvo's UK operations on a permanent basis, having served as acting managing director since July.

Wakefield (pictured) joined Volvo Car UK in 2012 as sales director, and in his new role succeeds Nick Connor, who was recently appointed chief executive of Polestar.

Wakefield said: "With an array of advanced new products on the way, as well as the rapid development of our autonomous drive technologies, I'm confident that Volvo's standing as a premium brand in the UK will go from strength to strength in the coming years."

A graduate of Exeter University, his career has seen him progress through business development and sales roles at firms including Lex, Porsche, Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, Daimler Chrysler and Inchcape, as well as two years as business development consultant at Volvo Car UK in the 1990s.

Prior to joining Volvo in 2012, Wakefield worked at Fiat Group as sales director for the Fiat and Alfa Romeo brands.