Renault promotes former marketer to top role in UK
Renault UK has appointed Roland Bouchara, a former Renault UK marketing director, as managing director. He takes over on November 1.
Bouchara joins from Renault South Africa where he was managing director and vice-president for Anglo-Africa and the Indian Ocean. He will report to senior vice-president for Europe, Marie-Christine Caubet.
He replaces Philippe Talou-Derible, who leaves Renault UK after five years to become commercial director for Renaultsport Technologies, manufacturer of the high-performance Renaultsport models.
Bouchara joined Renault in 1989, and as well as spending four years as UK marketing director, he has also been sales manager and regional director for the company in northern France and marketing director for Renault France. During his time in South Africa, he increased Renault’s market share in that country from 3.5% to 5%. He says: “The challenge of the coming years is very exciting and I feel positive we can attain the objectives of Renault’s 2009 commitment plan.”
Earlier this year, Renault UK appointed Emmanuel Bouvier as marketing director to replace Olivier Genereux, who left to become marketing director for the Asia and Africa region (MW March 2). Bouvier, who joined from Renault France, will now report to Bouchara.
Renault has had a difficult year in the UK, with sales for the nine months to the end of September down 20% on the same period last year, according to the Society of Manufacturers and Traders. The company sold 115,312 cars in the UK in the first nine months of this year, giving it a 6% share.
