Recent RAC research has shown that business take-up of telematics systems in Northern Ireland is among the lowest in the UK, with only 27% of businesses utilising the technology. This compares with 45% in London and 38% on average in the UK as a whole.

Phil Barnes has been appointed by the RAC to the new role and will support the continued growth of the firm’s telematics offer.

The role will see Barnes based in Northern Ireland but operating in a field-based capacity. His responsibilities will include increasing sales activity and supporting existing customers and partners.

He will also raise the RAC’s telematics profile throughout the province to highlight the benefits that telematics can bring to their fleet management and running costs.

Barnes said: “I’ve been working in the fleet sector for more than 10 years and specifically with telematics for more than six, covering the territory of Ireland (North and South). It’s an area I know extremely well and I’m passionate about the impact the technology can make on a business. The innovation of the RAC technology and insight into vehicle health, faults and crash detection, propels the RAC’s telematics technology to a whole new level.”

RAC Telematics managing director Nick Walker, said: “We’ve always had customers in Northern Ireland but not a presence on the ground until now, and it is a key appointment due to the growth of the sector and demand for the technology.

“Phil’s appointment really underlines our commitment to introducing RAC Telematics to businesses in Northern Ireland, which will quickly see the benefit of the technology in terms of bringing down running costs and increasing efficiencies.”

Barnes joins the business from Masternaut where he spent three years as regional account manager (UK & Ireland), responsible for driving sales with existing customers and delivering new business to meet targets.