Effective 1 April, Mr Hodgetts takes on the new role of European regional auditor, reporting to HME's chief operating officer, Manabu Nishimae. He will be responsible for the business performance assessment of 27 markets in the European Region as well as those in Middle East, Russia and Africa. The role will also encompass Honda's six manufacturing facilities within Europe and eight logistics operations.

Honda said that Mr Hodgetts’ new appointment will ‘play a key part in Honda's five-year European strategy to create a strong, autonomous regional operation, building on "best practice" in all areas and strengthening Honda's European business performance overall’.

Prior to joining Honda's sales operations, Mr Hodgetts spent 20 years in a variety of management roles at Honda's Swindon car manufacturing operation, latterly as director of planning and business administration. His background in both sales and manufacturing were key factors in his new European appointment. 



Commenting on his new position, Mr Hodgetts said: ‘The new role will encompass the whole of Honda's extended European region and will give me a great opportunity to better understand the diversity of these different operations and assess the issues that Honda must tackle in order to be successful in both mature and emerging markets.’

His position of managing director of Honda UK has been filled by Phil Crossman. who moves from his post of general manager, cars.

For the past two years Mr Crossman has been responsible for Honda's UK car sales operation and was previously head of dealer development for cars, motorcycles and power products.

He joined Honda UK in 2000 as a regional manager from Nissan Motor GB where he was one of the founding business team.