The firms, which recently merged operations in Leeds following parent firm Solera Holdings’ acquisition of cap a year ago, are to be joined by Joel Albyn, a former director of product management and global ecommerce strategy for Walmart, as director of innovation and product management. He will lead the rollout of new data products and devise new digital strategies. 

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

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

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

Finally 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. Preston has worked in senior HR roles in legal firm Taylor Wessing and technology business, PACE. 

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 latest appointments follow a recent restructure of the senior management team to sit across both the cap and hpi brands.