Phillip Mills, former operations director of Maranello Concessionaires Ltd, has died, aged 46.

During his career Mills worked in retail for both Peugeot and BMW, including a spell in the USA on the west coast.

In 1996 he joined Maranello Concessionaires Ltd (the Inchcape-owned importer) to develop the Ferrari business in the Middle East markets. Following success in this area he took responsibility for the UK market overseeing the re-launch of the Maserati brand into the UK.

In 2003 Mills was diagnosed with liver cancer. But he continued his work developing the Maserati and Ferrari brands in the UK.

A statement from Maranello says: "His many friends and former colleagues around the world in Maserati and Ferrari will remember him for his commitment and positive approach always backed up with a ready sense of humour."

Mills died on Tuesday. He is survived by his wife Angie and their two sons Danny and Carl.