Aston Barclay has appointed former Manheim director Richard Cross as its new group sales director.

Cross, who held the post of sales director for dealer sales and buyer services at the Cox Automotive remarketing specialist until December last year, will be responsible for driving new sales volumes in Aston Barclay’s physical centres and digital platforms.

Aston Barclay said that Cross, who has also worked at Citroen UK and more recently ran his own automotive data and artificial intelligence solutions business, Car Condor, has significant experience, making him “the perfect candidate for the role”.

Aston Barclay chief executive, Neil Hodson, said: “Having a dedicated sales lead is a key part of our growth strategy and we are confident that Richard’s experience and leadership skills will help take our sales volumes to the next level.”

Cross will have a team of three sales managers reporting to him and looks forward to optimising Aston Barclay’s dynamic range of digital products underpinned by a first-class physical auction infrastructure.

“I have been watching Aston Barclay’s reinvention of the remarketing sector with great interest and am very excited to now be part of this revolution,” he said.

“My job is to work with our existing customers and to support a range of new vendor clients about the group’s ability to provide an independent, personal and flexible service underpinned by the very latest digital technology,” he added.