June 11, 2026
Sara Davies
Wessex Fleet Updates
Wessex Fleet appoints Paul Marchant to head new part-exchange leasing service
We’ve welcomed Paul Marchant as our new retail and trade specialist. Paul brings 27 years of automotive industry experience to the role, with a diverse career that spans from a hands-on mechanical apprenticeship to dealership management. Most recently, he served as the Used Car Sales Manager for Group 1 Ford in Basingstoke, where he successfully grew the used car division over several years.
His extensive background also includes nine years as a sales advisor and key leadership positions, including Sales Controller, Business Manager, and General Sales Manager, for major brands such as Ford and Audi.
In his new role, Paul will spearhead a brand-new part-exchange service designed to support leasing customers across many of Wessex Fleet’s major brands and revenue streams, including Xcite, Appointed Representatives (ARs), and fleet operations. The innovative service allows customers to seamlessly part-exchange their existing vehicles when signing up for a new lease.
Wessex Fleet acts as the expert intermediary. Paul will leverage industry trade data and his deep network of trusted dealerships to negotiate the best possible price, passing the value directly to the customer minus a nominal commission. This model eliminates auction fees and advertising costs for dealerships, who are eager to acquire high-quality, privately owned vehicles over ex-rental or fleet alternatives.
The service introduces several unique selling points to the leasing market:
- Guaranteed continuity: The buying dealer collects the old vehicle only after the new lease car is delivered, ensuring the customer is never left without transport.
- Price integrity: By using detailed customer photographs for upfront appraisals, the price agreed is the final price paid, eliminating the last-minute price drops common with instant car-buying services.
- Extended price validity: Unlike these rivals who offer strict 7-day valuation windows, Wessex Fleet locks in a realistic price that aligns precisely with the future delivery date of the lease vehicle.
- Trusted network: Transactions are handled exclusively through verified, reputable dealerships to ensure total consumer peace of mind.
Greg Tapley, Retail Sales & Operations Manager at Wessex Fleet, welcomed the appointment, highlighting the strategic value Marchant brings to the business.
Greg said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Paul to the Wessex Fleet team. His exceptional track record in dealership management and deep understanding of the used vehicle market make him the perfect fit to lead our exciting new venture. This part-exchange service adds immense value to our leasing proposition, making the transition to a new vehicle smoother than ever for our customers. Paul’s expertise will be instrumental as we roll the service out across major revenue streams.”
Paul expressed his enthusiasm for the unique structure of the role. He said: “I’m delighted to be joining Wessex Fleet to launch this fantastic new service. Having spent my entire career within dealerships, I’m looking forward to owning the entire journey, as one dedicated point of contact.
“Dealerships are screaming out for high-quality, privately owned stock, while our customers gain an honest, transparent, and seamless way to transition out of their old cars. Customer response has already been incredibly positive, and I look forward to establishing this as a major, high-volume revenue stream for the business.”
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