Fiat has appointed of Karl Howkins (41) to the newly created role of commercial director.

Reporting to managing director Steve Zanlunghi, Howkins takes over responsibility for developing sales of new cars across the Fiat Group brands.

His appointment marks the formation of a new department of commercial operations – all passenger car retail sales, fleet, used and logistics operations will be handled by this new division.

Howkins has 25 years' experience in the automotive industry, most recently as managing director, Opel Netherlands and before that fleet operations director at Vauxhall Motors.