Automotive retail and distribution giant Inchcape has appointed Reuters in-house lawyer Claire Chapman as its new general counsel and group company secretary.

Chapman will take over from retiring Inchcape general counsel Roy Williams on 1 July, reporting to Inchcape group chief executive Andre Lacroix.

She joins the FTSE 250 company from Reuters, where she has served as general counsel for Europe, the Middle East and Africa since 2005.