Renault has appointed Thomas Marneffe as the new Sales Director for the Renault brand in Belgium and Luxembourg (Belux), effective April 2026.

He succeeds Jan Schmook, a long-standing Renault executive who retires after a career spanning more than four decades within the group, closing a chapter marked by continuity and deep institutional knowledge.

Marneffe, 42, combines a solid academic background with extensive commercial experience in the automotive sector. He holds a degree in Communication, complemented by an international exchange program in Sweden, and completed the Advanced Automotive Management program organized by Febiac and Ichec Management School.

Well-known figure

Professionally, he is a well-known figure in the Belgian automotive landscape, having built his career across commercial and network functions, most recently as Network Manager for Renault Belux.

From 2018 onwards, he held several management positions within the Fiat group—later integrated into Stellantis—including Sales Director for Fiat, Abarth, and Fiat Professional Belux.

He subsequently became Commercial Policy Manager for Europe before being appointed Sales Director Belux for a broad portfolio of brands, including Peugeot, Citroën, Opel, Fiat, and Jeep. This multi-brand and international experience is expected to be a strong asset in his new role.

He takes over from Jan Schmook, one of Renault Belux’s most experienced profiles. Schmook began his career at Renault in 1986 as an engineer, contributing to the development of early Renault models before moving into commercial roles.

From the late 1990s onwards, he became a key member of the Belux management committee, holding positions in after-sales, retail, and regional management.

Appointed Sales Director in 2022, he played a central role in maintaining Renault’s market position during a period marked by supply constraints, increasing competition, and the first acceleration of electrification. His career reflects a rare combination of technical and commercial expertise, and he has been instrumental in shaping Renault’s long-term presence in Belgium and Luxembourg.

The transition from Schmook to Marneffe reflects continuity rather than disruption. Renault is opting for an experienced insider to carry forward a strategy that increasingly focuses on value creation, electrification, and network efficiency.

Strategic importance for Renault

The Belux region itself is of strategic importance for Renault. In 2025, the group sold 67,473 vehicles in Belgium and Luxembourg, representing a market share of 12.6%, making it one of Renault’s top ten markets worldwide, according to Renault Group.

In Belgium alone, Renault ranked among the leading volume brands and performed even stronger in the private customer channel, where it reached the podium.

The brand also maintains a leading position in light commercial vehicles, where it has consistently ranked number one in Belux, supported by strong models such as the Kangoo and Trafic.

Electrification is becoming an increasingly important driver of performance: Renault recorded strong growth in hybrid and electric sales in 2025, with electrified vehicles accounting for a rapidly rising share of its registrations, reflecting the broader shift in the Belgian company car market.

At the same time, Belgium is a demanding environment, characterized by intense competition, a high proportion of fleet registrations, and rapidly evolving fiscal frameworks that influence purchasing behavior. This makes the region both a key contributor and a strategic test market for Renault’s broader European ambitions.

In this context, the Sales Director’s role is pivotal. Beyond managing volumes, the position involves balancing retail and fleet channels, steering pricing strategies, and ensuring alignment across the dealer network.