ALISON Jones is VW’s new brand director with effect from Monday, 4 July, heading up Volkswagen Passenger Cars in the UK after having worked in the brand for ten of her 18 years to date with the Volkswagen Group.

Alison Jones (48) has developed a deep understanding of the Volkswagen network, brand, numbers and customers through a variety of roles, including management and head-of positions in retailer support, aftersales and customer service, as well as a stint overseeing finances as brand controller.

In 2010 she drove the transformation of the Volkswagen Group UK Customer Services Centre in Leeds, followed by a move to Audi as head of operations – a role that included new and used car sales, factory planning and network development.

Jones was promoted to the Volkswagen Group UK Board of Management in 2012 as director of customer quality, and then moved on to set up the Group Aftersales and Customer Quality (GACQ) function two years later.

Commenting on her appointment, Alison Jones said: “I’m very excited to return to Volkswagen Passenger Cars in this leading role.  We have a great brand, a brilliant team of people and fascinating products – both on sale now, and in the not-too-distant future.

“We also have one of the best retailer networks in the industry, and I am looking forward to working with them to deliver the very best experience for our customers.”

Paul Willis, managing director of Volkswagen Group UK Limited, said: “I’m really pleased that Alison is moving into this key role.  Her sheer breadth of experience makes her the ideal person to take Volkswagen forward at such an important time for the brand.  I’m very much looking forward to working with her.”

Jones replaces Alex Smith, who has moved to a role elsewhere in the industry.  Willis said: “We would like to thank Alex for his contribution to this company over the past nine years and wish him well.”

Jones’ successor as head of Volkswagen Group’s aftersales and customer quality function will be announced in due course.