CAP AND HPI GEAR UP FOR GROWTH WITH KEY APPOINTMENTS

One of the UK's largest automotive data businesses is gearing up growth in the UK, and significant international expansion, with key appointments.

Leeds based, CAP and HPI employ 160 staff, and provides both data and insight to the automotive trade and consumers.

Joel Albyn, a former director of product management and global ecommerce strategy for Walmart, joins the business as director of innovation and product management. He will lead the rollout of new data products and devise new digital strategies.

Mr Albyn has been working between Walmart's Innovation labs in San Francisco and the UK, leading a team of product and project managers.

Roland Barzegar has been appointed as chief of staff. Roland will coordinate programme management and support the managing director with the acquisition strategy.

Mr Barzegar joins from Plusnet, where he was finance director, and sat on the board. His previous roles include spells at Ernst & Young and PWC.

Andrea Preston joins the business as head of HR, Automotive. She will lead a record period of recruitment for the business, and implement talent development programmes. Ms Preston has worked in senior HR roles in legal firm Taylor Wessing and technology business, PACE.

Commenting on the appointments, Ian Rendle, managing director of CAP and HPI said: “We are building a world class brand, and it is important to have the right people in place to support our ambitions. The coming months will see unprecedented levels of product innovation and the implementation of transformative digital strategies that will benefit our customers in the UK, and beyond. Joel will play a key role in leading this programme.

“Andrea brings a wealth of experience in growing a team and creating a strong culture in an international technology led business. And Roland will support our operations through a period of organic and acquisition led expansion.”

The move follows a recent restructure of the senior management team to sit across both the CAP and HPI brands. Headed by Ian Rendle, managing director, it includes; Neil Hodson, deputy managing director, Will Porter, product development director, Matt Thompson, marketing director, Andrew Fellowes, director of consulting, Keith Darby, managing director of CAP and HPI Ludlow, Adrian Rushmore, operations director.

CAP and HPI coming together creates the only UK-based business with decision support data and software solutions spanning vehicle valuation, validation, collision, mechanical repair, and total cost of ownership.

Ends

December 2015

Notes to Editors:

HPI and CAP are two of the most recognised brands in the motor industry. CAP is recognised as a leading provider of data and insight to the automotive industry. Its award-winning used car pricing and technical information has been trusted for more than 30 years.

Established in 1938, HPI is a primary source of vehicle information for the UK motor industry and motoring consumer. HPI encompasses both the HPI database of all UK road registered vehicle descriptions and histories, and the National Mileage Register (NMR) which holds in excess of 200 million mileage readings.

With combined revenues of over £70m, the two brands create a major UK-based business with decision support data and software solutions spanning vehicle valuation, validation, collision and mechanical repair and total cost of ownership.

Both CAP and HPI operate as part of the Solera Group of Companies. Solera is a leading provider of risk and asset management software and services to the automotive and property marketplace, including the global P&C insurance industry. Solera is active in over 75 countries across six continents.