Robert Deane has been appointed managing director of Activate Accident Repair and Activate Parts at Activate Group, joining from Volvo Car UK where he was commercial director.
Deane oversaw a network of 93 retail sites at Volvo UK, leading aftersales, operations, parts supply and the repair network.
In his new role, he will join the Activate Group board and executive team, with responsibility for the strategic direction and performance of the group’s repair and parts operations.
Activate Group operates across the collision management sector, working with insurers, fleets and manufacturers to deliver motor claims and repair services.
Its Activate Accident Repair division runs 13 centres across the UK and works with a partner network of more than 650 repairers, delivering tens of thousands of repairs each year.
Activate Parts, the group’s in-house parts provider, partners with a nationwide supplier network to provide parts supply for repairers and fleet customers.
Deane brings experience from previous senior roles at Harley-Davidson and JATO Dynamics, and spent four years in China with Jaguar Land Rover working on product strategy.
Deane said: “I’m delighted to be joining Activate Group at a time when the industry is evolving so quickly – there’s a real buzz around the business.
“I’ve already had the chance to spend time with many members of the leadership team, and their expertise and commitment to doing the right thing for customers really stood out.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to shape the strategy across the group and build on the strong foundations already in place.”
Hannah Wilcox, Activate chief executive, added: “I know Robert’s proven leadership across complex operations will be a fantastic asset in achieving our vision to be a transformational leader in collision management.
“Our repair and parts divisions are core to our end-to-end offering, and Robert’s appointment will enable us to take these capabilities to the next level for our customers.”