Former Sogo Mobility managing director Karl Howkins has joined automotive software firm Tomorrow’s Journey as a consulting director.

Karl Howkins, consulting director at Tomorrow’s Journey

The role will see him advise the firm on accelerating its growth in the UK market to support fleets and OEMs and fleets with its software.

Howkins joins the company in his first role since leaving flexible leasing business Sogo Mobility. His background also includes two years as the managing director of Citroën UK and a similar period as the MD of Opel in Switzerland.

Tomorrow’s Journey provides full-service automotive software to a global customer roster that includes Hyundai, Al-Futtaim and Gridserve.

Howkins said: “I worked with Tomorrow’s Journey as a customer and was impressed with the efficacy of the technology. They’ve developed a modular system that can drive efficiency across everything from car subscription services to test drives and pool car management. I believe this is the technology platform that will help to accelerate some of the key trends that are shaping our industry.”

Tomorrow’s Journey has built the JRNY platform to support auto-companies’ growth plans, providing technology to optimise efficiency in everything from subscriptions, rental, test drives, courtesy and pool cars.

The company was established in 2017 and quickly grew to operate across Europe and the Middle East. It is chaired by David Betteley, a former managing director of Vauxhall Finance, who also held senior roles at Toyota and JLR.

Chris Kirby, co-founder and CEO of Tomorrow’s Journey, said: “Karl brings a wealth of experience to this new role. We share a vision for the role that great technology will play in accelerating car subscription, supporting online vehicle sales and driving greater efficiencies in fleet operations.”