London, 10 November 2025 – AION Auto UK has bolstered its senior management team with a series of strategic hires as it prepares to launch the brand in the UK in early 2026. The appointments bring deep industry expertise and a wealth of experience across automotive sales, network development, aftersales, and fleet management.
Duncan Johnston joins as Network Development Director, bringing a distinguished career in UK and European retail networks, with leadership roles at Honda, Lotus, and Inchcape. David Pay takes on the role of Sales Director, adding 25 years of commercial experience spanning the automotive and financial services sectors, including McLaren and Santander.
Ben Hurford has been appointed Aftersales Director, following more than two decades at Renault UK and recent success establishing aftersales operations at start-ups B-ON and Volta. Lee Giddings will lead the fleet division as Head of Fleet, drawing on extensive experience in the UK fleet and leasing sector, including senior roles at Suzuki UK and Toyota GB.
All new senior hires will report to Managing Director Jon Wakefield, who emphasised the importance of industry expertise in shaping the brand’s UK strategy. “Our success will be determined in no small part by the quality of the leadership and the way we apply our deep knowledge and experience of the British motor industry,” Wakefield said. “These senior team members are very experienced operators of the highest calibre and are greatly respected in the industry. I’m looking forward to working with them to execute our launch strategy and to shape the long-term future of AION Auto UK.”
Additional appointments across commercial and operational roles have already been made, with more expected in the coming months as AION Auto UK builds momentum ahead of its debut.
Leading the UK launch will be the AION V, a C-segment SUV that combines bold exterior styling with a spacious, versatile interior. The all-electric vehicle offers an industry-leading range, a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, and an eight-year warranty. First customer deliveries are planned for spring 2026, with the AION UT B-segment hatchback joining the lineup later in the year.
With a strong leadership team in place and a compelling product portfolio, AION Auto UK is poised to make a significant impact in the competitive UK automotive market.
