Jameel strengthens leadership team with key industry appointments

Jameel Motors UK is expanding its leadership team with the appointment Calum James as head of sales as the company accelerates its UK launch strategy with the recent debut of the Farizon SV large electric van.

Sujai Sugathan also enters the business as head of aftersales to join Kate McLaren, head of marketing and sales operations and Jeremy Wood, Jameel’s head of finance who is currently serving as acting managing director, who both joined the business earlier this year.

These strategic hires mark a critical phase in the company’s development, as it prepares for first customer deliveries of the Farizon SV in Q2 and responds to strong demand from across the UK fleet sector.

Calum James brings over a decade of experience from Mercedes-Benz UK, where he held several senior roles, including head of corporate sales for Mercedes-Benz Vans. His background spans fleet development, aftersales, and national sales management.

Sujai Sugathan brings more than 20 years of aftersales experience across the UK and India. His career includes leadership roles with Maruti Suzuki’s largest dealership, Mahindra and Mahindra, and Škoda India. Most recently, he served as aftersales manager for Sherbet Electric Taxis, a LEVC specialist.

Kate McLaren brings 30 years of OEM experience across brands such as Citroën, Renault, Fiat, and Kia UK. Her track record in product, brand management, and customer experience positions.

Jeremy Wood, who has taken on the additional responsibility of acting managing director, joins from MG Motor UK, where he was senior finance manager.

He previously held key financial roles at Marshall Motor Group and brings financial acumen critical to the company's growth trajectory.

Commenting on the appointments, Jeremy Wood said: “Calum and Sujai have joined Jameel Motors at a pivotal moment as we build on the momentum from the Farizon SV’s UK launch.

“With customer deliveries beginning later this quarter and exceptional interest from the fleet market, their expertise will be vital in executing our ambitious growth strategy and securing a significant share of the UK’s electric van segment.”

Established in 2016, Farizon is the commercial vehicle arm of Geely, China’s largest privately owned automotive group. The Farizon SV is being introduced to the UK market by Jameel Motors UK, a London-based distributor and part of the global Jameel Motors network.