Imperial Commercials, DAF Trucks’ largest dealer group in the UK and Europe, is adding significant strength to its regional sales function with the key appointments of Daniel Fitzjohn, 38, and Vincente Connolly, 43 – together handed Regional Director roles to develop the market-leading DAF Trucks marque in their respective Western and Birmingham regions.
Both individuals come with huge experience at senior level with the Mercedes-Benz brand.
The talented executives join a dynamic and increasingly youthful sales structure at Imperial Commercials, though the pair boast extensive skills-sets at dealer and head-office level. Fitzjohn and Connolly will report to Managing Director Matt Lawrenson, 47, himself newly-appointed after enjoying 12-years of managerial progression with the multi-franchise Imperial Commercials dealer group. Also, Alan Ellison, 40, joined Imperial Commercials in 2017 following a long career with DAF Trucks. Ellison is also recently appointed to the position of Commercial Director – again, underlining the youthful vitality of the senior team.
“I’m genuinely thrilled that Imperial Commercials has been able to attract not one, but two, exceptional individuals of the calibre of Daniel and Vincente,” said Matt Lawrenson, “both have outstanding CVs, and both demonstrate the prerequisite drive and dynamism to stimulate significant business growth in our strategically important Western and Birmingham regions.”
Daniel Fitzjohn – Regional Director Imperial Commercials, Western Region
Based at Imperial Commercials Bristol location, Daniel Fitzjohn comes from an aftersales background having started his career as an apprentice truck technician and has held senior management roles for the last 11-years.
In 2007, Fitzjohn started working within the Mercedes-Benz dealer network. He has held overseas positions with national responsibility for the commercial vehicle dealers in Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Oman, and then returning to the UK working within the Mercedes-Benz passenger car franchise based in Stockport, Manchester.
Fitzjohn’s focus now is overseeing the DAF brand’s sales, service and parts activities from six locations within Imperial Commercials’ Western Region – the largest region within the dealer group.
“This was an opportunity too good to miss,” said Fitzjohn, “Imperial Commercials has a very strong foothold and a tremendous reputation in the truck industry, and DAF Trucks’ dominance of the market is unrivalled for over two decades. Credentials like these are a huge attraction,” he said, “There are many key infrastructure projects – particularly around the M4 / M5 corridor – where we are already busy looking at opportunities to develop the DAF brand through providing industry leading service levels to new and existing DAF customers in the area.”
Vincente Connolly – Regional Director Imperial Commercials, Birmingham Region
Vincente Connolly boasts a wealth of experience with Mercedes-Benz having spent 25 years serving the German marque and the last 13 at Mercedes-Benz Head Office. Connolly’s entire career has been associated with Mercedes-Benz having joined the organisation as an apprentice technician and, subsequently, various roles within Passenger Car, Mercedes-Benz Van Sales and finally Truck Sales.
In 2005, Connolly joined Mercedes-Benz Head Office in Milton Keynes as a Regional Manager, promoted to Head of Dealer Sales in 2009 and latterly Director National Sales, leading the UK’s sales organisation with responsibility for the Mercedes-Benz, FUSO Canter and FleetBoard telematics brands. His association with the brand continued last May after he joined the TOM Group as Franchise Director where he led the Mercedes-Benz Truck and Van business.
Connolly said, “Naturally, I’m thrilled to be joining Imperial Commercials after a long career with Mercedes-Benz – and the challenge of developing the market-leading DAF brand is a key motivator for me. Joining the largest DAF Dealer group in the UK and Europe,” he said, “is made even more attractive with the support we are afforded by Imperial Holdings – a truly global organisation – meaning we can provide DAF operators with unrivalled service levels. As the country’s second city, and as the beating heart of the UK’s transport network, Birmingham provides us with a huge opportunity to grow the business organically.”
Imperial Commercials is the largest single dealer group for the DAF Trucks brand in Europe, with 25 DAF-franchised locations strategically located throughout the UK. Including other commercial vehicle franchises, Imperial Commercials has a presence at 29 UK locations providing sales, service and parts for a number of commercial vehicle marques.
