SsangYong UK hires former Mitsubishi finance boss amid plan for contract hire push

Former Mitsubishi executive John Chisholm has taken responsibility for financial services at SsangYong Motor UK.

Bassadone Automotive Group, the parent company of SsangYong Motor UK, has appointed Chisholm as director, financial services.

In this newly created position, John will be responsible for managing the group’s provision of financial services across Europe, and particularly for SsangYong in the UK.

It comes as the importer of the Korean brand prepares for a push into the contract hire market, to help win over business customers to a new SsangYong pick-up truck which it will launch here in 2019.

Chisholm was previously chief executive of financial services at Mitsubishi UK, where he initially established retail finance and contract hire operations, before subsequently going on to run them for over 20 years.

Kevin Jones, chief executive of Bassadone Automotive Group, said: “John’s appointment further demonstrates our continued commitment to ensuring the success of SsangYong”.

Nick Laird, recent appointed managing director of SsangYong Motor UK, added: “As we develop both our fleet and retail business, it is essential we provide customers and dealers with first class financial services, especially contract hire.

“This will play a big part in achieving sales success of the new Rexton, and the Musso pick-up which arrives mid-year.”