Mazda Motors has made changes to its European and UK sales leadership teams in a move to manage the smooth transition to electrification for customers and dealers.

Peter Allibon moves to the role of director, sales and dealer network for Mazda Europe from 1 November 2023

Peter Allibon, who has held the role of sales director at Mazda UK for the last 12 years, will move to become director, sales and dealer network for Mazda Europe from 1 November 2023. He will be responsible for 22 markets and report directly to the vice president of sales and customer service.

Laura Brailey, head of retail operations, will replace Peter as sales director of Mazda’s UK business. She joined Mazda (formerly MCL Group in the UK) as an analyst in 1995 before promotion to roles including business manager in the north west, used car remarketing manager and fleet marketing manager.

Her new role as sales director is critical to the journey to full electrification and the evolution of how people buy cars.

Allibon joined Mazda UK in 2008 as fleet and remarking director, moving to the sales role in 2011. Prior to joining Mazda UK, he was the country brand manager, Mazda Credit UK with Ford Financial – responsible for the Mazda UK retail finance activities. Prior to this, he worked in a number of roles prior to this in Ford Credit and the banking industry.

In his new European role, Allibon will be responsible for many aspects of sales planning across 22 markets, with sales totalling in excess of 160,000 units per year, and the strategic relationship with Mazda’s European dealer networks.

Jeremy Thomson, Mazda UK managing director, said: “We are living through a period of unprecedented change in the auto sector. This is almost certainly the new-normal and our 120-strong network recognise that Mazda has a unique advantage in the stability of the leadership team, not often seen in the industry. Mazda UK has always maintained an extremely open and collaborative approach and these changes will continue to build on that and the close working relationship we have with our partners.”

Commenting on the new role for Peter Allibon, Thomson added: “In his 12 years as sales director, Peter has been a huge presence in our Mazda UK culture. He has navigated some tough times, including of course, the pandemic and the more recent challenges with supply constraints and post-Brexit operational changes and the opening of a new port-of-entry in Bristol. His move to Mazda Europe is a fantastic move for him, and I wish him well in his new role.”

Thomson also welcomed Laura Brailey to her new role as sales director.

He added: “Her 28 years’ experience and familiarity with Mazda UK and our dealer partners is a huge asset to the business-critical role of sales director and I look forward to both the stability and the fresh thinking Laura will bring to our sales and dealer operation teams.”