Alan Hodgkinson is retiring as managing director of Aquilo Motor Services at the end of March, after just two months in the job. His duties will be taken on by Aquilo plc chief executive officer Clive Nicholls.

Derek Swann, a non-executive director of Aquilo plc, is also retiring. Karl Vella, managing director of Karl Vella Autobody Repairs, joins the Aquilo board as non-executive director.

Aquilo’s controversial acquisition of the ABS repair network, of which Hodgkinson was chief executive and Swann chairman, was completed in January.

Hodgkinson says: “The last year has been a particularly taxing time but now the acquisition is complete and the handover has been successfully completed, I believe it is a good time to go.”

After paying tribute to the efforts of Hodgkinson and Swann, Nicholls adds: “We are very pleased to see Karl join the board. He will form a key link between the 240 ABS repairers and the management of Aquilo.

“Our first task with him will be to establish the ABS repairer council, which will ensure repairers have a strong voice in the running of the company.”