YASER Shabsogh has been promoted from sales director to commercial director at Kia as part of a reorganisation of senior personnel.
Yaser will have responsibility for all Sales, Aftersales, Marketing, Supply Chain activities as well as Fleet, including business car sales to SMEs.
Kia’s current head of fleet, John Hargreaves, continues in his current role and will report into the new sales director when that appointment is made.
The other senior change is Simon Hetherington, currently dealer development director, who becomes business development director.
Kia president and chief executive, Paul Philpott said the restructure allowed Kia to develop its business with Shabsogh focusing on quantative development and Hetherington on qualitative development.
“These two roles will report directly to me and will permit a stronger focus on our dedication to increasing the Kia brand’s strength in the UK,” added Paul Philpott.
Both Shabsogh (46) and Hetherington (40) both joined Kia in the same year – 2007 – Yaser from Ford and Simon from Toyota.
In other business car news, Stephen Kitson, director of corporate communications, Gary Tomlinson, head of human resources and facilities and Simon Court, head of finance, along with Shabsogh and Hetherington, will report directly to Paul Philpott.
