Molly Kelly promoted to Interim Head of Fleet at Changan
CONGRATULATIONS to Molly Kelly, who has been appointed Interim Head of Fleet at Chinese OEM Changan.
A highly talented fleet executive, Molly joined Changan in September 2025 as UK Fleet & Leasing Manager having previously worked at Fleet Procure and before that at Polestar.
Richard Chamberlain was the brand’s Head of Fleet until Molly’s appointment. There is no word on whether Chamberlain has taken a new role in the company or has departed Changan.
Changan, which has two cars on sale in the UK (both EVs), has so far registered fewer than 2,000 vehicles in the first seven months of 2026. However, Nic Thomas, Changan’s UK MD, has told Broker News that real volume will not come until the latter stages of the year when plug-in hybrids are added to the range. Plug-in hybrid versions of both the S05 and S07 are due; the S05 from September and the larger S07 before the year end.
Read our Drivalia-supported Women in Broking profile of Molly Kelly here.
MJVL expands with new Marketing Executive
Jurni Partner Matthew James Vehicle Leasing is welcoming a new member to the team: James Aynsley. James, a graduate of Leeds Beckett University and with a strong marketing agency background, joins the brokerage as its new Marketing Executive.
Pictured above is Director of Matthew James Vehicle Leasing, Matthew Paton (on the left), welcoming James to the brokerage. Matthew James Vehicle Leasing was a finalist in the 2025 Broker News Awards.
Former Tesla ADAS executive moves to VCHRGD
THE EV charging business VCHRGD has appointed James Read as its new Chief AI Officer. The business said it strengthened its commitment to supporting customers and people with the software development and AI capability for further growth.
The appointment comes as VCHRGD evolves from an EV charger manufacturer into an integrated charging technology business. James will lead the development of AI-powered tools, software and connected technologies, all designed to complement VHCRGD’s human-led customer support, improve operational efficiency and support the delivery of new products and services.
James joins VCHRGD with a diverse technology background, spanning software architecture, cloud deployment, data analysis, automation and complex operational environments.
A former Boeing 777 Captain with more than 25 years’ flying experience, he has since worked within Tesla’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) testing programme, leading their UK and Finland teams, before founding and developing an AI-powered financial compliance platform.
Volkswagen Group confirms time is running out for SEAT, but backs Cupra brand
Volkswagen Group has announced that the SEAT brand future is under discussion but will fully back the Cupra brand
Broker News Newsletter 2 September 2026
Catch up on the latest leasing broker news in the 2 September 2026 Broker News newsletter
BYD joins LCV pick-up market in August
BYD has entered the UK LCV pickup market for the first time with the Chinese new entrant registering five vehicles in August, according to SMMT figures
Fleet concern over downtime is easing – Arval
Fleets concern over downtime has shown a slight improvement during the last year, according the 2026 Arval Mobility Observatory Barometer
Peugeot and Leapmotor highlight Stellantis division
Peugeot is having a huge fall in new car registrations but sister brand Leapmotor is up by more than 8,200 cars
Volkswagen Group to go high volume as it slashes model line up
The Volkswagen Group plans to streamline its model portfolio by around 50 per cent and reduce its offering by around 75 per cent by 2035
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.
