• Morris takes up new role following Steve Beattie’s appointment as Head of Sales
• Responsible for all Volvo’s UK business sales, including to leasing companies, emergency services and other organisations
• Volvo aims to capitalise on growing demand for electrified cars to further develop its fleet sales performance
• 2020 figures show Volvo outperformed the market with its fleet/business sales, ensuring a strong foundation for the year ahead
Volvo Car UK is pleased to announce the appointment of Robert Morris as its new Head of Fleet and Remarketing, effective immediately. Reporting into Commercial Operations Director, Matt Galvin, he succeeds Steve Beattie in the post, following the latter’s move to become the company’s Head of Sales.
Morris will be responsible for all Volvo’s UK business sales, including to leasing companies, and the supply of specialist vehicles to the emergency services and other organisations. This is a key area for the company, with true fleet accounting for 27% of its sales in 2020. He will also oversee vehicle remarketing activities and residual value management.
Volvo’s growing range of plug-in hybrid and electric cars is providing valuable new opportunities for fleet and business sales, giving customers the benefit of highly efficient electrified performance combined with Volvo’s well-established strengths of safety, design, practicality and lasting quality. Morris joins the company following a year in which Volvo’s UK fleet operations performed well despite the significant challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic: although true fleet sales understandably declined, the rate was less than for the overall market (-26% compared with -28%).
Morris commented: “This is an exciting time for Volvo, with the roll-out of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles that are increasingly key choices for business customers. This gives us a great opportunity to challenge the status quo in the premium market. Steve Beattie and the team have created an excellent foundation on which to achieve more success in true fleet and business sales.”
Welcoming Morris, Matt Galvin said: “Our ongoing electrification programme and the fundamental strengths of our renewed product range give us impressive firepower to build on the achievements we have already made. Robert brings valuable experience and understanding of the market to help us maximise our potential and our performance as an attractive and effective player in the premium business car market.”
Morris joins the company from Mercedes-Benz UK where he most recently held the post of National Operations Manager. His previous roles within the company include National Fleet Development Team Manager responsible for retailer development and National Strategic Account Manager handling public sector clients. Prior to joining Mercedes-Benz, he spent seven years with the Volkswagen Group as a fleet sales manager for the Skoda brand.
-ends-
