DS AUTOMOBILES UK NAMES NEW MARKETING DIRECTOR

DS Automobiles has announced the appointment of Keely Davidson as the brand’s new UK Marketing Director. Davidson will be taking over the position from Mark Blundell following her role as Head of Marketing & Connected Customer at Stellantis retail group Robins & Day.

Overseeing the Connected Customer project for Robins & Day, Davidson worked to ensure that all customers were able to communicate effectively with staff to receive the right responses for any queries they had when enquiring about a new car, allowing the retail group to achieve an efficient and streamlined sales process.

With over 20 years of experience within automotive, Davidson has held several senior Marketing positions within the Stellantis group, as well as active roles spanning across Media, Product and Communications. Prior to her role with Robins & Day, Davidson held the position of Head of Brand Marketing at Peugeot.

Starting her career as District Aftersales Manager, Davidson went on to become Head of Dealer Marketing, before taking a more hands-on role as Platform Head of some of Peugeot’s most popular models including the 3008 and 5008 SUVs.

Keely Davidson said: “I’m thrilled to be joining DS at this exciting junction of the brand’s development. As a brand, we’ve achieved so much already, reflected in us overtaking Lexus in Market Share across Europe. 2021 holds much to look forward to with the launch of both DS 9 and DS 4 as we continue to take the brand, our products and services to a new audience.”

Davidson joins the brand as DS Automobiles continues to evolve across the UK. Over the past year, DS has opened two of its largest showrooms in the UK - with DS Store Leicester, and its flagship, DS Store West London – as well as launching its Virtual Showroom platform which includes a 360° virtual tour with a trained DS Advisor.

The brand has also recently announced its latest Elevation plan, as well as details of the latest additions to the DS range, the DS 4 and the DS 9. While customers will be able to buy their new DS 4 later this year, orders have now opened for the new DS 9. The new models will be joining the brand’s current line-up, including models from the DS E-TENSE range, consisting of the DS 7 CROSSBACK E-TENSE 4x4 PHEV, and DS 3 CROSSBACK E-TENSE, 100% electric SUV. From 2025 onwards, all models in the DS Automobiles range will be available exclusively as electrified versions, hybrid or fully electric.

Davidson will work closely with Alison Jones, Group Managing Director UK & Senior Vice President of Stellantis, who said: “We are thrilled to welcome Keely into her new position as UK Marketing Director at DS Automobiles. Keely has been an integral part of the Stellantis group for many years, and we have full confidence that she will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role which will be vital for developing DS in the UK. I would like to thank Mark for all of his hard work over the past six years and wish him all the best for his next endeavours.”

Davidson will be taking over the role from Mark Blundell, who has acted as UK Marketing Director since 2015. Blundell leaves the DS team to take on his new role as UK Managing Director of leasing company Free2Move.

To find out more visit: https://www.dsautomobiles.co.uk/

ENDS

PRESS CONTACTS

Kristian Cholmondeley – 07831 315892 – kristian.cholmondeley@dsautomobiles.com – Head of Communications – DS Automobiles.

Jeremy Townsend – 07827 896480 – jeremy.townsend@stellantis.com – UK Communications Director – DS, Citroen, Peugeot & Vauxhall

ABOUT DS AUTOMOBILES

Driven by the spirit of the avant-garde and backed by an exceptional heritage - that of the 1955 DS, the DS brand, launched in 2015, aims to embody French luxury savoir-faire in the automotive industry. DS Automobiles is Groupe PSA's Premium brand.

Designed for a customer base looking for personal expression and eager for new technologies, the second generation of DS models combines refinement and cutting-edge technology. With DS 7 CROSSBACK, DS 3 CROSSBACK and DS 9, the DS brand is launching a range of six vehicles worldwide, all offered in an electrified version under the E-TENSE label. The brand will also be launching the DS 4 later in 2021.

DS 3 CROSSBACK E-TENSE, 100% electric, DS 7 CROSSBACK E-TENSE 4x4, a plug-in hybrid with 300 horsepower and 4-wheel drive for only 30 grams of CO2 per km, benefit from DS savoir-faire acquired with the Formula E Drivers and Teams Championship titles in 2018/2019.

For its discerning customers, DS Automobiles has created "ONLY YOU, the DS Experience", its exclusive service programme for a unique brand experience.

With a presence in 39 countries, the DS brand has created and is developing an exclusive distribution network that includes 400 DS STORES and DS SALONS throughout the world.

Follow all the news from DS on www.DSautomobiles.co.uk @DS_UK

With a presence in 39 countries, the DS brand has created and is developing an exclusive distribution network that includes 427 DS STORES and DS SALONS throughout the world.

Follow all the news from DS on www.DSautomobiles.co.uk @DS_UK