Audi UK has appointed Martin Sander as its new managing director to replace Jeremy Hicks who left earlier this year to head up Jaguar Land Rover UK.

Sander will start the job on January 3, 2012 and move from his current position as president and chief executive of Audi Canada.

Volkswagen Group UK managing director Simon Thomas, said: “Martin has a very strong history with our company in Germany, Northern Europe, and of course Canada. Audi in the UK continues to break sales and registration records and I am sure that Martin is the ideal person to lead the brand to even greater success in all areas over the coming years.”

Sander joined Audi 16 years ago and has worked as director of sales for northern Europe and head of retail marketing and CRM.

He has been in his current role in Canada since 2009 and has overseen growth in sales and expansion of the dealer network.