CITROËN UK ANNOUNCES THE APPOINTMENT OF KARL HOWKINS AS MANAGING DIRECTOR

Citroën has announced that Karl Howkins will take over the role of UK Managing Director, starting from 1 June 2018. Karl will replace Bek Hassan who transfers to a senior position in Paris, working for the PSA Group.

British born Karl (46) is currently Managing Director of Opel Switzerland, a position he has held since July 2016. Prior to this, his most recent roles were Deputy Managing Director of FCA Fiat Chrysler Automobiles UK, Managing Director of Opel Netherlands and Fleet Operations Director for Vauxhall Motors. Karl started his career as a management trainee in a Vauxhall dealership.

Welcoming Karl to the team, Stéphane Le Guével, Director General - Peugeot Citroën Automobiles UK Ltd, said; “It is a great pleasure to welcome Karl to the team as Citroën UK’s new Managing Director. The Citroën brand will launch several significant new products in the next few months, so I am pleased that Karl’s appointment is happening now. Citroën’s repositioning, in line with its new “Inspired By You” brand signature, is perfectly illustrated by its latest products, its advertising strategy and the new corporate identity for the dealer network. I am totally confident that Karl will build on these recent successes for the Citroën brand, here in the UK.”

Stéphane continued; “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Bek Hassan for everything he has done for the business over the past five years, and to congratulate him on his new Head Office role in Paris.”

Commenting on his new appointment, Karl said; “I am delighted to return to the UK at such an exciting time in the development of the Citroën brand. With a raft of new products on the horizon, including the flagship New C5 Aircross SUV this autumn, the opportunities are fantastic to drive profitable growth with our dealer partners.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

ANDREW DIDLICK 07836 362859 andrew.didlick@mpsa.com
JOHN HANDCOCK 07810 180249 john.handcock@citroen.com
KATIE READ 07834 500267 katie.read@citroen.com
MICHAEL ARNOLD 07831 829410 michael.arnold@citroen.com
CRAIG MORROW 07747 764745 craig.morrow@mpsa.com

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The Citroën brand:

Citroën is an international automotive brand with a full range of cars and light commercial vehicles at the heart of the mainstream market. Founded in 1919, Citroën has made its mark through its bold and creative approach to automotive design. These values are harnessed in the pursuit of well-being, with fresh solutions to the changing demands of customers in each era. Today, Citroën is reinventing itself with models such as C3 and the New C3 Aircross compact SUV that place an emphasis on design, comfort and intelligent technology, bringing a breath of fresh air to the automotive landscape. As a people-minded brand, Citroën is proud to offer products that take inspiration directly from its customers, the spirit of which is highlighted in its brand signature ‘Inspired By You’. The brand also offers a unique customer experience with its city store concept ‘La Maison Citroën’ and its online opinion site ‘Citroën Advisor’. With 10,000 customer contact points in almost 80 countries worldwide, Citroën sold more than 1.1 million vehicles in 2016. Citroën has also amassed eight Manufacturers’ titles in the FIA World Rally Championship and three consecutive Manufacturers’ titles in the World Touring Car Championship in 2014, 2015 and 2016.