Alphabet’s Clive Buhagiar made head of operational services

Alphabet (GB) has appointed Clive Buhagiar as its new head of operational services.

Buhagiar has been with Alphabet since 2011, initially joining as head of public sector following the acquisition of ING Car Lease by the company.

In 2014, he moved to take up the role of head of commercial performance, leading the team responsible for developing and driving Alphabet’s strategic commercial and customer initiatives in the UK.

Chief operating officer Uwe Hildinger, who joined in September from Alphabet International, said: “I’m very pleased to be able to make this appointment in what is a vitally important, strategic and operational role for the UK business.

“Clive’s commercial experience is a huge advantage in a role which brings together Alphabet’s operational ‘business backbone’ with leading-edge developments in connected vehicles, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), as well as anticipating the changing landscape of consumer demands.

“Clive is a well-respected and highly regarded figure in the Alphabet organisation both in the UK industry and internationally, with a number of outstanding personal qualities.

“He brings both a first-rate strategic mind and true customer insight, together with the ability to build and motivate winning teams which deliver real world results for both Alphabet and our customers.

“His appointment reflects the quality and depth of individual talent which exists within Alphabet and demonstrates one of the four pillars of our UK strategy, that Our People Make the Difference.”

Buhagiar added: “I’m really excited to be joining the operational services team and leading a team who are absolutely pivotal to Alphabet’s core strengths of customer focus and service delivery for all business channels.

“It’s a team packed with talent and experience from across the industry and further afield; this breadth of perspective will be crucial to our success in a fast-paced, dynamic customer environment where technologies are developing and merging.

“My ambition is to help discover and implement new, innovative ways to further enhance and improve our service offering, while adapting to new mobility trends where technology and data offers Alphabet and our customers new challenges and opportunities.”