Jeep has revealed its new-look UK management team, which is headed up by Jules Tilstone as managing director.

Jules Tilstone, managing director at Jeep UK

The changes, part of a group-wide reshuffle at Stellantis UK, also see marketing director Nicola Austen and regional operations & Jeep sales director Christian Theobald join the management team.

Tilstone has more than 20 years of experience across Stellantis, starting his career with the company as commercial manager, developing his career in national fleet and then marketing for Citroën. He moved to DS Automobiles in 2014 to the position of international head of marketing, European commercial director and most recently UK managing director.

Tilstone said: “It is a great privilege to take on the role of managing director for Jeep, a brand I have much admired over the years and has an exciting future ahead with an array of new products – our first new all-electric product, Avenger, has just been awarded the European Car of The Year trophy which is a remarkable achievement and testament to the Jeep team.”

Christian Theobald joined the business 27 years ago as a trainee sales exec within the retail business, holding many roles up to general manager. In 2019 he moved to Citroën as head of southern region, evolving the role to cover the whole of the UK as head of network sales.

Nicola Austen joined Alfa Romeo as brand communications manager in 2015, adding Jeep to her role in 2015 before moving to head up fleet sales in 2019. She moved to head of communications for Jeep in 2020 before stepping up to marketing director earlier this year.

Their new roles are part of a majorly revamped management structure at Stellantis UK, which is also centralising support services, while streamlining dealers’ business models and moving to multi-franchising.

Speaking in October 2022, the group said the new set-up – which includes amalgamating the management of Alfa Romeo and DS Automobiles in a new premium brand division – integrates “the multiple retailer contact points, simplifies policies and procedures and improves communication whilst maintaining the integrity of the respective brands”.

Pre-orders for the fully electric Jeep Avenger opened in January. The compact crossover has a 400km electric range and sits between the Renegade and the Compass, supporting the brand’s vision of “Zero emissions, 100% freedom”. It also furthers plans by parent firm Stellantis to have more than 75 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) by 2030.