The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire April Edition | Page 6

APPOINTED

Carter Jonas Sees Double

Rachel in the
driving seat at
Mazda Academy
Chippenham-based
learning & development
agency rts, which specialises
in the automotive sector,
has welcomed a new
member of staff to head up
its Mazda Academy team.
Experienced banker Rachel Smith has
swapped the finance industry for automotive
learning and development, to become
team leader for rts’s Mazda Academy; the
academy, headed up by Carl Gregory, helps
develop customer-facing staff at Mazda
dealerships throughout the UK.
“I am really excited by this new
challenge,” said Rachel. “The Mazda
Academy team are young, dynamic and
passionate ambassadors of the brand and
it’s a real pleasure to be working with them.”
Rachel, 48, from Swindon, started her
career with HSBC in retail banking. She
moved into business development for HSBC,
specialising in change management, and
among the projects she was involved with
was the relocation of 8,000 HSBC staff to
the new Canary Wharf tower.
During her HSBC career she also managed
branches in Chippenham, Corsham and
Calne, before moving to NatWest as a
private banking manager.

With the appointment of two chartered
building surveyors from Jones Lang LaSalle,
Carter Jonas has further strengthened their
Bath and Wiltshire offering.

Rachel said her new role at rts will
allow her to use her project and change
management skills. She said: “I am looking
forward to helping the team build on an
already great client relationship, and to make
delivery even more proactive and dynamic.”
rts managing director, Malcolm Miller,
said: “We are delighted that Rachel has
joined the Mazda team. Her experience and
knowledge from the banking world and her
natural enthusiasm will really strengthen the
team and their support to Mazda people‎
across the UK.”
Carl Gregory, head of the Mazda
Academy, added: “It is great to be able to
welcome Rachel to the Mazda Academy. We
have taken some significant steps during the
past year to work more closely with dealers
and improve their performance. Rachel’s
experience in team development and change
man