An eight-figure management buy-in at Vans Direct has put Langley Davies at its helm.

The business was established as Find-It-Fund-It Services in 1997 by brothers Carl Platel and Mark Aston with a £2,000 investment. Its focus was finding vehicles for customers and arranging finance.

It became Vans Direct in 2003, and now employs 150 people.

The online sales referral business is now responsible for 10,000 new van sales a year, according to its management. But Davies, who has a background in finance and vehicle contract leasing through Park Asset Finance, wants to expand on that.

“We believe there is further potential to develop the business even more.

“With a significant injection of capital, as well as a dynamic new management team, I am confident that we can secure a highly successful long-term future for the company,” said Davies.

Majority shareholder is Welsh businessman Sir Stanley Thomas. Keith Brooks, former chief executive of TBI, has become non-executive chairman.

Platel and Aston both remain on the board, with a combined shareholding of around 25%.

Davies has been joined by operations director Jane Pocock, formerly of the AA, and commercial director Edward Pigg, from Lombard Vehicle Management.