After months without a general manager for its UK car division, Honda has named David Strangeway as the man to drive the company forward. Previously head of human resources, he joined Honda in 1990 as franchise and dealer development manager to mastermind its dealer network boom from 130 to 150 outlets.

Meanwhile, Alfa Romeo has appointed Glyn Owen, the former managing director of Fiat Auto in Denmark, to take charge of the UK operation as managing director. The move is part of Fiat Auto's restructuring of its business unit. “The reorganisation to autonomous self-governing business units marks a fundamental move to focus intensely on the different parts of our business,” says Owen. “Creation of the framework to achieve this is a top priority.”

Honda's Strangeway takes over from Mark Davies, who moved to a similar role in Honda's motorcycle division in November. In the absence of a general manager for cars, managing director Ken Kier has been standing in.

“My brief is to increase Honda car sales in Britain to support our Swindon plant and to improve profitability,” says Strangeway.