FORD of Europe has appointed top-level Audi exec Martin Sander as its new general manager of passenger vehicles.
Martin takes up the role in June and effectively replaces Roelant de Waard, who retired end 2021.
Leasing brokers may recognise the name, since Martin Sander is a former managing director of Audi in the UK back in 2012-13. His most current role at Audi, where he has served for 25 years, is as senior VP of European sales.
Sander, who will be based at Ford of Europe’s Cologne base, will be primed to accelerate Ford’s electrification push for both passenger cars and commercial vehicles. The first all-electric car to come out of the Cologne plant will be a compact based on VW’s MEB platform, a result of the Ford-VW global agreement to share resources on cars and vans.
Stuart Rowley, president, Ford of Europe, commented:
Martin is a highly experienced leader with a wealth of global experience. His drive, leadership and new thinking will speed the transformation of our passenger vehicle business in Europe to provide customers with new connected experiences.
Ralph Morton is the leading journalist in the leasing broker sector and editor of Broker News, the website which provides information and news for BVRLA-registered leasing brokers. He also writes extensively on the fleet and leasing market in both the UK and Europe.
