SAMANTHA Ward has been appointed operations director at Vansdirect.
Ward’s appointment at the Vertu-owned broker will see her manage the complete process function for the light commercial vehicle specialist, as well as leading and developing colleagues, meeting strategic objectives and ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction.
Ward first joined Vansdirect in January 2016 as the training and development coordinator, progressing to become training and compliance manager two years later. Subsequently she has helped implement the Vansdirect enquiry team and taken on the business support management role prior to her current appointment.
Ward, commenting on her appointment, said:
“There has been a fantastic career path for me at Vansdirect. I am excited and feel very fortunate to be working with a team who share a passion for delivering first class customer service.”
Two fleet sales managers appointed
As part of a strategic push to win more fleet customers, Vansdirect has also recently appointed Michelle Fairclough and Liam Nicholas as national fleet sales managers.
Fairclough joined in March from the Mercedes-Benz dealer Intercounty Truck & Van where she had been national business development manager. While Nicholas joined in July from another Mercedes dealer, Euro Commercials, where he was business development manager.
Paul Cox, sales director at Vansdirect, added:
Both Michelle and Liam bring huge experience, trade knowledge, efficiency and professionalism to our team at Vansdirect. Along with Samantha’s promotion we are creating a great business to serve customers who want vans!
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.
