First National Motor Finance, which last month signed a three-year agreement to provide financial service products for MG Rover, intends to raise finance penetration for the carmaker by appointing a dedicated sales team.

Chris Maynard becomes director of MG Rover Financial Services and Jonathan Evans operations director. Both have experience of working with Rover Finance when the carmaker was a subsidiary of BMW.

Mr Maynard, with 23 years' motor industry experience at Nissan and Rover, heads a 15-strong MG Rover team.

He said: “In a fiercely competitive and price-led sector, MG Rover Financial Services will offer dealers added value services to complement its comprehensive range of finance products.

“Training programmes for sales staff and access to an internet-based proposal, quotation and submission system, all come as part of the service.”

He intends to make MG Rover Financial Services the dealers' first choice by tailoring products to meet their needs. Dealers will be able to negotiate individual packages, including pricing and commission payments, to encourage them to use MG Rover's financial products.

Keith Horlock, executive director, said FNMF enjoyed a “strong business relationship” with Rover for more than 20 years, until 1998.

“Chris and Jonathan will build a long-term and prosperous relationship with the manufacturer and its UK dealer network,” he said.