Appointments

FLA’s chairman Philip Ross gets promotion at Honda Motor Europe

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Honda Motor Europe (HME) has confirmed changes to the senior management of its European business.

From February 1, 2014, Philip Ross is promoted from general manager, Honda Finance to the role of senior vice president of Honda Motor Europe, with responsibility for the pan-European sales performance of Honda Cars, Motorcycles and Power Equipment products.

Ross joins fellow senior vice president, Ian Howells, following Howells’ appointment in April 2013.

These moves to strengthen Honda’s European management team come as the business continues to expand its motorcycle and power equipment product range, and prepares for four major new car launches in 2015.

Both Howells and Ross will report to Manabu Nishimae, president, Honda Motor Europe.

Commenting on his promotion, Ross said: “I am delighted to make this move as Honda enters a period of exciting product launches and look forward to working closely with the sales teams during this important period for our European business.”

Philip Ross joined Honda in 1996 and was responsible for setting up Honda’s own finance company. Over the last 17 years he has overseen the growth of Honda Finance as it has played a key role in supporting Honda’s sales performance.

In 2012 Ross was elected chairman of the UK Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) a position he succeeded from Chris Sutton, managing director of Black Horse Finance. Prior to that he was chairman of the FLA’s Motor Finance Division for two years.

Ross has worked in the motor finance business for 33 years.  The first 19 years with Black Horse in various roles including the F&I development team, branch manager in three different areas, Regional Manager for Toyota Finance and General Manager at Porsche Finance.  In 1996 he left to join Honda where he set up its captive finance company in the UK.