A fast-expanding North East Mercedes-Benz dealership has strengthened its team with the appointment of two new directors.
Longbenton headquartered Bell Truck and Van has appointed Gavin Hewitt as After-Sales Director and Dave Maughan as Truck Sales Director, both having progressed through a variety of roles within the business.
Hewitt, 35 from Bensham in Gateshead joined Bell Truck and Van in 1998 as an apprentice service advisor/ technician before being promoted to warranty admin manager where he was tasked with setting up the company’s central administration depot. After undertaking numerous managerial positions across the group, he was most recently promoted to Group Aftersales Manager with overall responsibility for the group’s parts operation.
As After-Sales Director, Hewitt will continue to contribute to the strategic growth of Bell Truck and Van and to maintaining and building upon the high levels of customer service that the business is renowned for, reflected in the business being named Mercedes-Benz’ Commercial Vehicle After Sales Dealer of the year in 2014.
Commenting on the directorship, he said: “Having been a part of the Bell Truck and Van business since I first started work in 1998, I’m extremely proud to realise my long-term ambition to become a director at the company. The last 17 years have been a fantastic journey both in terms of my own personal development and the company’s expansion and I’m now looking forward to the next challenge.”
Meanwhile Maughan, 51, from Consett has spent over 35 years in the truck industry, including 15 at Bell Truck and Van having joined the company as a Sales Executive in 2000. During his 12 year tenure in the role he was instrumental in building the Bells’ customer base in the Teesside area from the company’s Billingham depot. Key achievements include being named Mercedes’ Top Sales Truck Executive in the UK in 2004 based on cumulative performance. In 2012 he was promoted to Truck Sales Manager with responsibility across the Bell Truck and Van patch.
As Truck Sales Director he plans to play a key role in increasing and improving the company’s sales penetration. He commented: “It’s a privilege to be appointed to Truck Sales Director and having the opportunity to be involved with key decision making which will further impact on the strategic growth of Bell Truck and Van, at what is a really exciting time for the business.”
Bell Truck and Van is a third generation family business which has been operating throughout the region since 1919. Bells operates from six depots which, in addition to Longbenton, include Team Valley, Spennymoor, Billingham, Stockton and Wetherby from which it employs 220 members of staff.
The director appointments coincide with a period of sustained growth for the Bell Truck and Van business which recently opened its Wetherby workshop to serve a growing demand from its customers in North Yorkshire. Over the past 12 months the business has seen sales increase by 25 percent.
Trevor Simmons, Group Managing Director for Bell Truck and Van, said: “I am delighted to appoint Gavin and Dave to Bell Truck and Van Directors. They have both worked for the business for many years and have significantly developed their roles in that time. They have both displayed a relentless attitude to the very highest levels of customer service, professionalism and integrity commensurate with the Mercedes-Benz brand and an exemplary dynamism and positivity towards the development and growth of the Bells business.
“This is a really exciting time for the Bell Truck and Van as we enter our next phase of growth, with plans to extend the Mercedes-Benz product line up and to capitalise on new and emerging markets in the offing. I’m delighted that Gavin and Dave will be instrumental in helping shaping the future of the operation throughout the North East and beyond.”
Bell Truck and Van has been a Mercedes-Benz franchise for 42 years and specialises in new and used truck and van sales, parts and aftersales service including 24-hour roadside assistance, vehicle health checks and tachographs. It also carries out MOTs on cars of any make and model and offers a 24-hour service.
For further information about Bell Truck and Van call: 07789 171762 or email: marketing@belltruckandvan.co.