Richardson Rice, the York-based trailer manufacturer, has appointed a new national dealer account manager to help develop its dealer network.

Ronnie Bissell joins the business to look after its existing dealers across the UK, and to source new ones for the Shipton-by-Beningborough factory, which builds a range of horse, livestock and commercial trailers

He said: "We have some great dealers already and I will be working with them to help develop sales of Richardson and Rice trailers and to ensure we provide the best possible service to our customers. I will also be adding new dealers to our network to ensure full coverage of the country."

Ronnie previously worked for Richardson Rice managing director Fran Johnson, at Pocklington Coachworks in York, which built specialist support vehicles, particularly for motorsport, such as hospitality trailers and mobile workshops.

Both his wife, Margaret, and daughter, Victoria, are keen horsewomen. Victoria, a lecturer in equine studies at Lincoln University, takes part in horse trials and among their horses is a home-bred yearling, which, Ronnie says, they have promised will be sensational.

Updated: 10:52 Friday, July 08, 2005