The managing director of Renault UK, Philippe Talou-Derible, is leaving his post to become head of commercial marketing for RenaultSport Technologies, AM has learned.

He will be replaced by former UK marketing director Roland de Bouchara, the current managing director of Renault South Africa.

The French carmaker has yet to confirm the move.

One Renault dealer told AM that Talou-Derible’s departure was no surprise. “A lot of the network isn’t happy with its relationship with the manufacturer, so we’re hoping that the change will be a positive one,” he says.

News of Derible’s departure comes as Renault sales are down 22.7% year-to-date. Derible had predicted that 2006 would be a hard one for dealers “because of poor consumer confidence”.

A second Renault franchise holder blames the market conditions for causing the strained relationship between the manufacturer and dealers. He believes the new appointment is unlikely to make a difference.

Renault UK finished last year with 7% market share.