Kia UK has appointed Dave Williams (pictured) as head of fleet, effective from 1st July, following the retirement of John Hargreaves, who has stepped down after 14 years of service to the business.

The leadership transition comes at a pivotal time for Kia as it expands into the light commercial vehicle (LCV) sector with its PBV range, and continues its push into electrification, supported by its Plan S 2030 strategy.

Williams will be responsible for overseeing fleet sales, remarketing, Kia Rental, Motability and PBV sales, as well as the rollout of the Fleet Management System and ongoing delivery of the Kia Business Service Promise.

He brings with him 35 years of automotive experience, including 20 years at Kia UK.

Williams said: “It has been my privilege to work for Kia over the past 20 years, and I very much look forward to returning to the fleet side of the business.

“The key to that success has been the people: the team and leadership, of which John has been integral.

“He has led the fleet team with incredible knowledge and foresight – something I hope to emulate as Kia enters its next chapter.

“I am very grateful to John for leaving the role in such a healthy position, which is testament to his exceptional stewardship of the role, and at a time when Kia is breaking sales records on an almost monthly basis.”

Hargreaves significantly expanded Kia’s fleet presence; he joined Kia on 8th February 2011, when annual UK registrations were just over 50,000 – a figure that has since more than doubled.

Hargreaves said: “I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together during my time at Kia, having taken the company from the relatively small manufacturer that it once was, to becoming one of the most recognised and admired car brands in the UK.

“Dave brings a great wealth of expertise to the role and I have every confidence in his ability to continue driving innovation in the fleet team for years ahead.”

Sanka De Silva, sales director at Kia UK, added: “John is unquestionably one of the industry’s most recognisable and respected figures and he will be sorely missed…

“We are delighted to announce Dave’s move to become our new Head of Fleet. He has spent even longer with the company than even John can claim… and we are confident that Dave is the right man for the job.”

With multiple EV models launching this year, including the EV4, EV5 and PV5, and a growing emphasis on sustainable mobility, Williams will take the helm of a fleet operation at the heart of Kia’s future growth.