Nissan Motor (GB) Limited has appointed a new network sales director and head of leasing, specialist fleet sales and rental as it targets market share growth.

Michael Stewart is appointed to the new position of head of leasing, specialist fleet sales and rental, and will be responsible for building relationships with UK leasing companies and driving Nissan performance in the sector, taking on his new position from his former role as network sales director at NMGB.

Joining the business as Nissan’s new network sales director, Andrew Sellars, recently returned to the UK from Volvo Car Group, where his latest position was of that vice president – commercial operations, based in Thailand for the APAC region.

Prior to Volvo Sellars held a number of senior roles with Kia Motors UK and Kia Motors Europe, but began his career in the dealer network, selling cars.

Sellars said: “I’m delighted to become part of the Nissan family, and look forward to working closely with the dealers on qualitative sales and high levels of customer satisfaction – all supported by the great added opportunities these new product launches represent.”

Stewart spelled out Nissan’s focus on developing the quality of its market share and said that the brand’s relationships with the UK’s leasing companies would be “critical”.

He added: “I’m delighted to be taking on this new role within Nissan and driving performance in line with our fleet sales goals, in what are challenging and fast-moving market conditions.”

Darren Payne, sales director at Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd, said: “With his wealth of network experience I’m delighted to welcome Andrew to the network sales team, and I also congratulate Michael on his new role within the fleet sales team, and thank him for his contribution to accelerating Nissan’s sales performance.

“We are now in a great position to meet the challenges and requirements of both the retail and fleet markets, with new models launching into key sectors throughout 2017.”

Sellars and Stewart start their new roles with immediate effect.