20 May 2018

Alistair Cassels, director of retail network development at Vauxhall, has left the PSA brand to take up the newly created post of head of group network development at Volkswagen Group in the UK.

The move comes just days after Vauxhall informed its retailers of a restructuring that is likely to see around a 100 of its 328 franchises cut from the network.

It is understood that all Vauxhall franchise holders have now been told which of three categories they are in; definitely keeping the franchise, losing the franchise or under review.

Mr Cassels had been Vauxhall’s network development boss for two years and had been a long-time employee of the brand having worked in several roles in the manufacturing plant in Luton, before joining the network development team as franchise manager in 2002.

One of his last jobs at Vauxhall was to help Peugeot Citroen Retail buy Now Vauxhall out of administration at the start of this month.

At the time he commented: “Vauxhall Motors is pleased to have supported Robins & Day [Peugeot Citroen Retail] in their acquisition of the Now Vauxhall retail sites, ensuring a strong and sustainable future for the business and its employees.”

Meanwhile, Vauxhall has also lost sales and marketing director Simon Oldfield according to a spokesman for the national sales company.

Replacing Mr Cassels is Andy Robson who was previously aftersales director. Vauxhall’s new aftersales director is Mark Pinkney. While the marketing director role has yet to be filled the rest of Vauxhall’s key directors are; Leon Caruso is retail sales director, James Taylor is fleet sales director and customer experience director is Peter Hope. The team reports to Stephen Norman who was appointed at the start of this year.

Tags: Cassels, Oldfield, Vauxhall, Volkswagen Group