Benfield Motor Group has appointed Heike O’Leary as group marketing director.

Previously brand marketing director for Adidas, strategic projects manager for Callaway Golf, she has also worked for a London-based marketing agency with clients such as Debenhams, Nissan, Ford, Bally, Karstadt and Citibank.

She has extensive knowledge of brand marketing which will help drive awareness of the Benfield brand and 34 strong portfolio of dealerships throughout the North East, Teesside, Yorkshire, Cumbria and South West Scotland.

Mark Squires, chief executive of Benfield Motor Group, said “This is an exciting appointment for us and demonstrates our strategic intent to grow and develop our brand and marketing across the regions we serve.

“We are investing heavily in our consumer led strategies to improve our customer service and improve the overall consumer experience for our customers.

“Heike will bring invaluable and undoubted in-house and agency brand marketing expertise to Benfield and we are delighted she is joining us at this time in our development.”

Speaking about her appointment O'Leary (pictured) said, “I am very much looking forward developing the Benfield brand and marketing strategies further and working with a very strong team of people and some fantastic worldwide renowned car brands.”

Benfield employs 1,500 people and has 34 retail outlets throughout the North East of England, Yorkshire, Teesside Cumbria and South West Scotland across a portfolio of 12 car retail brands.