Author: Ralph Morton

BUILDING relationships with a car maker’s senior personnel can sometimes be tricky, especially when they are swapped around so often.

So seems to the case with Mazda, which has a new head of fleet – the third within two years.

Steve Tomlinson has been promoted to the new role of head of fleet within the Mazda fleet sales department, while former fleet director Steve Jelliss moves to a new role providing support for Mazda Ireland.

Tomlinson will now report directly to Peter Allibon, Mazda’s sales director, and the former fleet director prior to Jelliss.

Jeremy Thomson, Mazda’s managing director, explained the revolving doors changes at Mazda HQ.

“The changes to our fleet sales operation are designed to offer a more targeted, more efficient service to our existing customers, while preparing to grow fleet sales in the coming years,” said Jeremey.

As well as fleet sales to larger corporates, Mazda has a strong presence in the SME sector, with support at dealers for the small business market.

Jeremey commented: “Historically we have done extremely well with Mazda6, but the natural product cycle of our key fleet model lines and our reduction in high-cost areas, such as Motability and daily rental, have seen our fleet volumes reduce over the last two years. Now, we are gearing up to introduce the all-new Mazda CX-5 this spring and further sixth generation Mazda models featuring low emission and low company car tax SKYACTIV technology in 2013. We anticipate a significant growth in our share of UK fleet sales.”

Mazda says that customers doing business with Mazda can expect a more stable relationship, as new head of fleet Steve Tomlinson will focus on nurturing existing fleet customer relationships. As well as this, Mazda said that Tomlinson would be raising awareness of the company’s low emission SKYACTIV technology and the 18-strong line-up of models in the Mazda CX-5 compact SUV range which goes on sale from this spring – and likely to have great appeal to SMEs and business drivers.

Tomlinson’s most recent appointment was senior national corporate sales & contract hire manager.

Tomlinson joined Mazda in 2003 as a business manager, subsequently being promoted to regional business manager in 2004 and to national contract hire & rental manager in 2007. The 42-year old from Laceby, North East Lincolnshire, enjoys cycling, golf and football – watching ‘The Tigers’ (Hull City).

The other business car news is that Steve Jellisss, former fleet director and responsible for Mazda’s SME small fleet policy, moves to a new role providing support for Mazda Ireland and seeking to drive greater operating efficiencies across Ireland and the UK.

The 56-year old, who joined Mazda UK in 2004, will be supporting the existing Irish team, the Ireland dealer network and existing suppliers – overseeing all aspects of the broader Mazda organisation in that country.

Before joining Mazda as CRM manager, then aftersales director and fleet director, Jelliss had worked at Ford (in the UK and Germany), Wunderman Europe (part of WPP), and a UK telemarketing company.

Steve describes his hobbies as keeping fit for triathlons and playing golf.