Shankar Ramanathan has been appointed managing director of the Royal Bank of Scotland’s car division, which includes Dixon Motors, Lombard Vehicle Management and the Jamjar cars internet operation.

Ramanathan, previously deputy managing director under the division’s interim structure and a former MD at Lombard, is the first in a number of new management appointments to be announced over the next few weeks. Tony Peppard will continue as Dixon Motors chief operating officer.

RBS, which acquired Dixon in 2002 for £110m, has refocused the business on car sales after selling the Car Clinic bodyshop network and motorcycle business last year.