ROLLS-ROYCE has appointed James Crichton as regional director Middle East and Africa, based in Dubai.

He has been with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars for more than 14 years, serving as general manager, global sales operations at Goodwood for the past six years.

Prior to this position he was regional director of Europe and Central Asia.

Mr Crichton was born in South Africa and joined the BMW Group in 1999 as a national sales manager at the Johannesburg office.

James Crichton

For a short time, he was based in Munich before moving to Dubai in 2007 where he was sales and marketing director for BMW and Mini.

In 2011, he established the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars regional office in Dubai, before moving to the UK in 2012.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars director of sales and brand, Julian Jenkins, said the Middle East and Africa region was strategically important for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

“It is home to the first Rolls-Royce Private Office established outside Goodwood and the source of many of the company’s most elaborate and extensive bespoke commissions,” he said.

“James is excited to be returning to the region and taking on the leadership of the strong and successful team based there.

“He succeeds César Habib, who has left the company to pursue alternative business interests.”