Seat UK has appointed Volkswagen Group stalwart Ben Fish as its new head of sales operations as part of a management restructure at the Spanish brand.

Fish, who has spent his entire career with the Volkswagen Group having joined as an undergraduate placement student, joins Seat having been head of product and planning and replaces Steve Catlin, who leaves to fill the head of sales role at Audi UK.

Catlin leaves Seat following three years’ service in which Seat achieved record breaking sales and market share in the UK.

Seat UK managing director celebrated the attainment of a 2% return on sale (RoS) profitability target, rising sales and success in the bi-annual National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) Dealer Attitude Survey in an interview with AM at the Geneva Motor Show.

As part of the management moves, Rob Fryer has been appointed as new head of product and planning, replacing Fish.

Fish said: “I’m really looking forward to working further with the SEAT team as well as getting stuck in with our dealer partners to help grow the brand even more in the UK.

“Focusing on our customer experience and satisfaction scores when selling our cars, alongside new launches this year such as Tarraco, I can see 2019 being another fantastic year for the brand across retail and fleet channels.”

Fryer, who now becomes head of product and planning, joined the Volkswagen Group in 2013 as a business management consultant, making his way up to technical assistant to the managing director in 2015.

He has since spent the last three years in Skoda as tactical planning manager before becoming brand controller in 2017.

Prior to Volkswagen Group, Rob Fryer held a variety of finance and business management roles at UBS Investment Bank.

Fryer said: “Having been a part of the Volkswagen Group for the last six years, I’ve witnessed Seat’s unprecedented growth from afar with admiration.

“With a strong model line-up that’s still on an upward trajectory, there’s much to look forward to in the coming months and I can’t wait to dive in and carry on the good work Ben and his team has done.”

Seat managing director, Richard Harrison, said: “I’m delighted to have Ben join the sales team at a record-breaking time. From my experience of his work in previous roles, I know he will bring significant insight to the role, building on the recent achievements of the sales team.

“I would like to congratulate Steve on his move to Audi UK and thank him for his leadership at Seat over the last three years. We also welcome Rob to Seat UK where I’m sure he will continue the fantastic work Ben has done.”