Karl Howkins will take over the role of managing director of Citroën UK on June 1, 2018, replacing Bek Hassan, who will move to a senior position in the PSA Group.
Howkins has been the MD of Opel Switzerland – also a part of the PSA group, like Citroën – since July 2016 and previously held a number of senior positions at Fiat Chrysler UK, Opel Netherlands and Vauxhall.
Stéphane Le Guével, director general of Peugeot Citroën Automobiles UK, 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.
“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, Howkins 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.”