Rupert Keane has left RAC Cars, leading to the appointment of a new management team.

Following the chairman’s departure, RAC Cars operates under the executive direction of RAC chief marketing officer John Orriss with Mario Dolcezza responsible for sales strategy and Hannah Darby will look after day-to-day operations.

RAC chief executive officer Chris Woodhouse said: “We have been following a strategy of integrating RAC Cars fully into the RAC Group for some time in order to drive further growth through cross sales and to take full advantage of the RAC brand and expanding the RAC product portfolio.

“As part of this process, it was always planned that Rupert would step down from his role as chairman of RAC Cars. It is with sadness that we are saying goodbye. Rupert first approached the RAC in 2012 with the RAC Cars proposition and has been instrumental in its evolution over the last three years to the recently launched free-to-advertise format.

“The new management team is of the highest quality and will be looking to drive the growth of RAC Cars forward as we seek to become the biggest website of our kind in the UK.”

Keane (pictured) said: "It’s been a great journey and I am convinced that the new free-to-advertise strategy is not only right for the market, but also right for the RAC. The aim of being the UK’s number one car search engine, helping those both buying and selling cars, sits right at the heart of being the motorist's champion.”

It was recently announced that RAC Cars had passed the 200,000 vehicle listing milestone just a few weeks after its new strategy had been announced.

 “Passing the 200,000 stock mark always felt the right moment for me to step back. I shall watch the continued growth of RAC Cars with enthusiasm.”