Shepherd joined Toyota GB in 1999 and held a number of field-based roles before his first executive appointment as general manager, operations for Lexus in 2006. In 2011 he took up responsibility for fleet and vehicle remarketing before leading the sales operations team in 2012. His promotion to sales director followed in September 2013.

He succeeds Richard Balshaw, who was recently appointed director of customer services, following the retirement of Steve Settle.

Commenting on his new directorship, he said: “I am pleased to be returning to Lexus at such an exciting time in the brand’s development and look forward to working with our team to sustain the growth we have enjoyed in recent years and to build the strength of our centre network.

“The task will be all the more rewarding thanks to the great new models Lexus is producing. The new IS, GS, NX and RX have made a big impact with customers and repositioned the brand as genuinely forward-thinking and individual. The prospect of the dramatic new LC coupe will serve to reinforce this perception and extend our reach to another key area of the luxury car market.”