Ford of Britain has begun 2009 with a change of leadership, with sales director Nigel Sharp’s becoming iyd new managing director.

Roelant de Waard, previously managing director and chairman, became vice-president of sales at Ford of Europe on January 1.

De Waard said the dual role has been split, with Joe Greenwell, Ford of Europe’s vice-president of governmental affairs, becoming Ford of Britain chairman under a broader remit.

“In the current environment there are a lot of non-operational areas, for example the funding request to government, that need working on and which are time consuming, specific and difficult to do at the same time,” de Waard said.

“We have to get our voice heard very strongly and we don’t believe there is a full understanding of the magnitude of the issues facing the industry so we have to step up our work dramatically.”

Sharp had occupied senior sales, marketing and finance roles with Ford in Europe, heading operations in four countries, before joining Ford of Britain as sales director in 2006. 

Ford of Europe director of product marketing John Wellsman has moved into the sales director role.