Ben has appointed Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) chief executive Steve Nash as the new chair of its board of trustees amid changes to the charity’s leadership team.

Nash has served on Ben’s Board since September 2014 and takes over from Robin Woolcock who has held the position for four years.

Woolcock, who was formerly managing director of Volkswagen Group (UK) Ltd, will remain a trustee, chairing the board committee that oversees Ben’s health and wellbeing work.

Zara Ross, Chief Executive at Ben, said: “We are delighted that Steve has taken up the role as Ben’s Chair. Steve is renowned for his strategic leadership, experience and depth of knowledge of the automotive industry, which will be invaluable as the sector embarks on a period of significant change.

“Steve will play a significant role in helping Ben progress to the next level of its transformation.”

Nash has worked in the motor industry since graduating in 1977, joining BMW in 1986 and filling the role of director at the German brand from 1997, looking after the Rover and Land Rover brands.

He was chair of the IMI for five years, before becoming president in November 2009. In 2012 he became IMI chief executive.

Ben has also welcomed new members to its board of trustees.

The charity said that TrustFord HR director, Sharon Ashcroft, will bring her “considerable senior HR experience in the automotive industry” to the board, while Chris Thomas, finance director at the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) and Mark Outhwaite, a director at Outhentics Consulting, will also share their expertise.

Sarah Bayliss, head of HR at Thatcham Research, joins to serve specifically on Ben’s people and nominations committee, meanwhile.

In addition to these changes to its board of trustees, Ben announced that Tim Holmes and Lesley Upham, both long-standing board members, have now completed their terms of office as trustees.

Ross said: “We would also like to give our heartfelt thanks to Robin Woolcock who has been our dedicated chair for four years now, and long-standing board member before that.

“Robin has played an integral part in Ben’s transformation up until now and he continues to be a loyal and committed support to the organisation.

“On behalf of all at Ben, I would like to thank Robin for his significant contribution as chair and we look forward to continuing working with him as trustee.

“We would also like to give a warm welcome to our new board members, Sharon Ashcroft, Chris Thomas and Mark Outhwaite, and also to Sarah Bayliss, who joins our people and nominations committee.

“Each of them brings considerable knowledge and experience in their respective fields and we very much look forward to working with them.

“As our new board members join, we would like to thank Tim Holmes and Lesley Upham for their important contribution to Ben’s board over many years.