Fraikin appoints new UK managing director

Fraikin has appointed Peter Backhouse as UK managing director (MD) in a move which sees him return to the business having originally led the company between 2010 and 2015.

The company said Backhouse had spent much of this year working in a consultancy role for Fraikin, sharing industry knowledge which has included 13 years holding senior supply chain and logistics positions at BT and Jewson, 11 years with Ryder between 1997 and 2008, with seven years as vice president (VP) and MD of Bunzl Healthcare for two years before joining Fraikin, returning to the industry as a consultant in 2019.

Backhouse added: “So much is changing right now with new legislation, new environmentally friendly drivelines, and new connected technologies. With such a fast pace of evolution it’s vital for businesses to access the most expert, independent, and up-to-date advice when making decisions about future fleet strategy.”

Hexagon Leasing appoints new national business development manager

Hexagon Leasing has appointed Nick Parker as national account and business development manager.

His role will include the management and development of existing customers as well as working with new and prospective clients.

Parker was previously at NGR Riverside and Ryder and has almost 20 years’ experience in the commercial vehicle industry including managing locations, workshops, and technicians to key account management of blue-chip national customers.

David Hodgkinson, head of sales at Hexagon Leasing, said: “We are very pleased that Nick has joined the team. He has a wealth of industry experience and knowledge and will be well equipped to help Hexagon achieve our ambitious growth plans over the coming months and years.

“At Hexagon we see ourselves as a partner, collaborating with our customers and Nick will be vital in maintaining and developing long-term relationships across key accounts.”

New senior marketing hires at Hippo Motor Group

Hippo Motor Group has made three new senior appointments to its marketing team.

The car dealership has recruited Ben Fox as head of marketing, Wayne Ainsworth as e-commerce manager and Umar Ditta as PPC manager.

Fox has spent the last three years as head of marketing at parking aggregator, ParkVia and prior to this working as head of marketing for Hisense UK, group head of acquisition at JD Sports Fashion and SEO manager at AO.

Ainsworth has been appointed to manage Hippo Motor Group’s online propositions as e-commerce manager.

His previous managerial positions include roles at Awesome GTI and The SL Shop, as well as a senior web designer role at corporate recovery firm, Begbies Traynor.

Completing the trio of hires is PPC manager, Ditta who has five years’ experience in the digital marketing sector.

His role is to manage the performance of Hippo’s PPC portfolio across the group’s brands.

Tom Preston, MD at Hippo Motor Group, said: “All three positions are fundamental to future commercial successes of the group, and we look forward to sharing some of those good news stories in months to come.”

Trammell Crow Company appoints second UK logistics development director

Trammell Crow Company (TCC) has appointed Jamie Hargreaves as its second development director in the UK.

Working alongside existing UK development director Matt Jones and reporting to head of UK logistics Mike Forster, Hargreaves will be responsible for identifying and securing commercial development sites, demonstrating the viability and target returns for investment partners.

Prior to joining TCC, Hargreaves was a land acquisition manager at Microsoft, where he focused on sourcing and transacting freehold land of up to 70 acres for data centre development across EMEA.

Before joining Microsoft, he spent nearly seven years with CBRE’s industrial agency department where he specialised in the acquisition and disposal of industrial and logistics properties in London and the southeast of England.

Forster added: “Through his experience at Microsoft and in agency, Jamie has an excellent network that enables him to source opportunities before they’ve even hit the market.

“As our UK team grows and we continue to explore acquisition of strategic sites in key areas across the country, his experience naturally complements that of the wider team.

“Recruiting our second development director in the UK is the clearest possible demonstration that Trammell Crow Company maintains a strong appetite to acquire new sites on which we will develop Grade A logistics assets and that we have the resources to realise these targets.”