Manheim has appointed Inchcape Retail’s Dean Ashworth and Kwik Fit’s John Fletcher as general managers of its auction centres in Colchester and Wimbledon.

A statement issued by the remarketing specialist’s owner, Cox Automotive, revealed that Ashworth had joined the business following an 18 year career with Inchcape Retail, during which he held a number of roles as head of business and general manager, representing brands including Volkswagen, Porsche and Audi.

Fletcher joins Manheim from Kwik Fit, meanwhile, where he held the role of regional manager responsible for 15 of the business’ largest volume centres.

At Manheim Colchester, Ashworth will take responsibility for the leadership of Manheim’s four-lane auction centre and its 200 strong team, the statement said.

As Manheim’s largest auction centre, Colchester holds three regular auctions per week as well as a number of stand-alone events – selling more than 6,000 vehicles a month.

Ashworth said: “I’m excited to join the business as it advances its digital strategy, and I look forward to working with the rest of the leadership team to deliver an innovative, blended approach that will offer more flexibility to our buyers, and great results for our vendors.”

Fletcher, who initially joined the automotive industry as an apprentice motor mechanic, began his management career with Ford, and has also held management roles with Halfords Auto Centres and Euro Car Parts.

As general manager at Wimbledon, he is responsible for building on the centre’s strong reputation in the South-East and delivering its ambitious growth plans.

He said: “In joining Manheim, I’ve found a business that shares my personal values.

“At Wimbledon, our customers range from small independent dealers to remarketing managers for large dealer groups and fleets.

“The auction centre plays an important role in the success of all these businesses, and I look forward to helping our customers achieve their remarketing goals.”

Manheim managing director, Peter Bell, said: “I am delighted to welcome Dean and John to our auction leadership team.

“Both have a wealth of experience in senior roles within automotive, and I’m extremely pleased to have them on board as we focus on ensuring that we continue to deliver a high-quality experience, tailored to the needs of new and existing Manheim customers.”