Honda Motor Europe’s executive vice president Ken Keir is to retire on 30 June, the UK-based division has announced. His replacement is Ian Howells, formerly head of Business Administration for HME.

Howells’ new title will be senior vice president for Europe. He reports to Manabu Nishimae, the president of Honda Motor Europe.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

Ken Keir joined Honda (UK) in 1993 as general manager of Cars. Five years later he became managing director of Honda (UK). He then took on the position of vice president of Honda Motor Europe in 2003, directing the activities of 27 European markets for cars, motorcycles and power products.

Ian Howells joined HME in 2008 as the head of Business Administration. A chartered accountant by profession, his new role will see him responsible for business performance in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Author: Glenn Brooks

Just Auto Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Auto Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Continental has secured the Window Displays Innovation Award in the 2025 Just Auto Excellence Awards for its Window Projection solution, transforming side windows into dynamic, data-rich canvases. Discover how this compact projection technology and intelligent software are reshaping in-car UX and opening fresh revenue streams for OEMs and mobility providers.

Discover the Impact