Alain Favey, managing director of Citroën UK Ltd, is leaving after five years in the post to become managing director of Citroën Italy.

He is to be replaced by fellow Frenchman 39-year-old Xavier Duchemin, who will assume the role from September.

Favey, who joined Citroën UK in May 2000, has overseen an increase in sales from 86,000 in 1999 to 130,000 last year.

“We’ll miss him,” says John Miskin, managing director of Sportif Citroën, Aylesbury and chairman of Citroën’s national dealer council. “Favey is a respected and intelligent man who would always listen to the dealer council.”

Duchemin has been with Citroën for 14 years, holding positions within the Paris head office and other European cities.

PSA Peugeot Citroën has posted half-year revenue up 1.5% to £20bn. Operating margins, at 4.1% of sales, dipped slightly from £882m to £816m.