Speakers

Peter is a certified behavioural, values an Talent Skills analyst, specialising in organisational change, a common ethos across the associated businesses of Advantage Business Group Ltd, which includes Success Factor and Business Measures.

He has spent over 35 years - his entire working life - in the motor industry in various guises. His beliefs about people making the principal difference in the quality of customer contact and service have been developed from his experiences, starting as a boy, in the family public transport business. During his career he was instrumental in implementing a cultural change programme at Halfords, and so became the principal mover in the establishment of a chain of modern garages, virtually from the outset, utilising modern, radical thinking and innovative systems to deliver exceptional levels of customer and after-sales service.

Before starting his own consultancy, Peter was Managing Director of Sewells Training & Consultancy, where he was responsible for the development and implementation of both their Sales and After-Sales programmes for vehicle manufacturers and dealer groups.

As an expert in behavioural development, he believes that it is the intimate relationship between the business process, the individual’s talents and the business leadership that determines the ultimate profitability of the business.

It is the aim of Peter and Advantage Business Group to be instrumental in bringing about a “sea change” in automotive after-sales and the very nature of the customer experience in this demanding arena is given its rightful recognition (pre-sales). You can follow his thoughts on this via Pete’s blog - http://blog.successfactor.co.uk

He has recently been appointed careers champion for the IMI, is a trustee of Stanley Head Education Centre and is active in his local community in Staffordshire Moorlands.

Paul Everitt has been chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders since January 2008. Since then he has been instrumental in developing a more collaborative relationship between industry and government and sits on the newly formed Automotive Council.

Paul was previously director of Civil Air Transport and Communications at the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC). He joined SBAC in 2005 and helped to devise and implement a major change programme. This resulted in a significant increase in membership, reduced operating costs and a strengthened relationship with government.

At SBAC Paul had specific responsibility for environmental and safety issues. Launching the world's first Sustainable Aviation strategy and helping to establish the pro-aviation campaign, FlyingMatters. During 2006 he oversaw SBAC activities at the Farnborough International airshow and helped to promote UK companies at a range of major international events.

Before joining SBAC, Paul was head of communications, economics and policy at SMMT. He played a major role in launching and developing the motor industry sustainability report, the annual CO2 report and took a lead on a range of high profile policy campaigns, including the End of Life Vehicle directive, Block Exemption and the Climate Change Levy. Paul supported the Automotive Innovation and Growth Team, helping to establish the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership and the Vehicle Industry Policy and European Regulation group, VIPER.

Previously Paul was deputy director of the British Road Federation and has more than 17 years experience of public policy and media campaigns in the transport sector.

Robert is the CEO of Vertu Motors plc, the 8th largest automotive retailer in the UK. The Group was founded in late 2006 and now operates 75 sales outlets predominantly under the Bristol Street Motors and Macklin Motors brands. He was previously a director of Reg Vardy plc between 2001 and 2006, appointed as Finance Director in 2001 and Managing Director in 2005, until the sale of the business to Pendragon plc in 2006. Robert qualified as a chartered accountant with Arthur Andersen. He is also a member of the Economic Affairs Committee of the Confederation of British Industry and a keen supporter of Burnley FC.

James Ward has over 14 years experience in market research since graduating. Joining the automotive aftermarket research company GiPA in 1998 he progressed to country manager in 2005 where he is now responsible for all syndicated (driver and trade) and bespoke surveys. During his 12 years at GiPA James has worked on a number of UK and international projects using his experience in quantitative and qualitative studies as a project leader, market researcher and moderator. He has provided knowledge and insight at all levels of the aftermarket allowing greater understanding of customers and competitors.

Dave Croston has worked in the tyre industry for over 17 years. He joined Continental Tyre Group in 1999. His current role heading up the UK car dealer business for Continental encompasses steering the development of the both the car dealer business and working closely with the UK vehicle manufacturers, dealer groups and associated suppliers to this sector.

Dave works within a car dealer network at Continental sharing tyre best practice and experience from across Europe and bringing that knowledge back to UK car retailers. Dave sees the massive potential for tyre retailing within car dealerships and is passionate about the profit opportunity that tyres present.

Roddy Graham, a strategic business professional with extensive experience in the vehicle rental and leasing industry, is commercial director of the Leasedrive Velo Group. He is responsible for implementation of the company’s business development programme. Roddy is also chairman of the Institute of Car Fleet Management (ICFM).

Before joining the Leasedrive BIMBO transaction team in a similar position in 2003, Roddy was managing director of Ignition Vehicle Management. This was a new venture, which Roddy steered from initial concept to a fully established operating leasing company. However, due to pressures in other parts of its business, Haydock Finance who backed the project took the decision to withdraw from the leasing sector in July 2002.

Before setting up Ignition Vehicle Management, Roddy Graham was managing director of Budget Rent a Car UK. Originally appointed as sales and marketing director, he played a key role in the acquisition of two car rental companies. Later, he led the purchase of seven licensee operations at a time when Budget was pursuing a business strategy of corporate-ownership.

Roddy Graham joined Budget from Highway Vehicle Management where he held the position of sales director for six years.

Patrick began his career in 2007 within a marketing traineeship at ICI in Slough, where he supported the adhesives business for the EMEA region - first in marcomms and later as marketing specialist responsible for new business development. 

In 2008, following AkzoNobel’s acquisition of ICI, Patrick moved with the adhesives business to Henkel, where he took up a post as technical sales manager for the UK and Ireland.

He then relocated to the Netherlands in July 2010, joining AkzoNobel Automotive and Aerospace Coatings as global product manager for StickerFix™.

Patrick’s main objective is to bring this innovative new aftersales product to market through OEMs and dealerships across the globe, and to demonstrate how StickerFix™ can offer dealers an opportunity to generate additional revenues and margins, increase traffic and improve customer loyalty and satisfaction.

Dave Johnson has worked in the automotive sector for the past 30 years and has extensive experience in all aspects of product management, from data creation to end user implementations, on a global basis.

He joined MSXI in October 2007 and is working on a range of solutions that provides positive business benefits to all layers of the after-sales sector.

Before MSXI, Dave worked for RL Polk in a variety of roles which encompassed managing software development projects and product marketing. The range of applications covered after-sales performance measurement and CRM systems with multi-market deployments. Dave has also worked with after-sales data during his time at Clifford Thames, where he was involved in the development of electronic parts cataloguing data.

Motor Trade for 20 years including middle and senior management with
- Dovercourt Motor Company (Audi VW/Dutton Forshaw)
- Testwood Motors (VAG/Ford)
- Wincanton Vehicle Contracts – contract hire

Then in Logistics with
- TDG Plc – Contract Distribution
- Carline Transport (as MD)

Finally in waste management as founder of SWR (Currently Head of Business Development).  SWR aims to become the Pre-eminent waste recycling services provider, and has to a great degree established that as SWR is now the supplier to:

- Arnold Clark Group (100%)
- Inchcape Retail (100%)
- Lookers Plc (100%)
- Sytner Group (preferred supplier)
- Marshalls Group (100%)
- Nationwide Crash Repair Centres (100%)
- Porsche Cars GB Ltd (100%)

Henry has worked within the automotive sector for over eight years. His experience ranges from senior account management of major brand accounts with implementation and delivery of dealer focussed programmes. He started his career working within the marketing and incentives arena and is bringing elements of that knowledge to this session. Since joining BTC he has been involved in the growing evolution of EVHC and its processes and best practices within european, US and African automotive markets.

Jeremy Evans is a talented and commercially-minded marketer with a passion for innovation and efficient working practices. 

With a background in retail – operations, sales, merchandising and then store management – Jeremy moved into the motor trade in 2001 bringing a wealth of transferable skills and ideas with him.

Since then, he’s gained a “both sides of the fence” view of the industry by working within two dealer groups and then in-house for Nissan.

In 2007, Jeremy took a decision to establish Marketing Delivery Ltd, using his experience and knowledge to provide an outsourced marketing department service to dealer groups. He now employs four staff and has also developed two unique and much sought-after business tools for the motor trade – SmartMail; a highly intelligent and cost effective eCRM package, and SmartCall, a call tracking and monitoring system.

Marketing Delivery is based in East Sussex and works with dealerships all over the country. Clients include The Co-operative Motor Group, Cambria Group, Yeomans and Ancaster.

Rod Castle has worked in the Automotive sector for over 25 years. He was a Director of the Carter & Carter Group for 13 years having joined the founder as the first employee in 1993. During this time he carried out numerous roles including President of their US business, Group Operations Director, Divisional Managing Director and Head of Strategy and Planning before taking a sabbatical in early 2006. Rod is now a Director and shareholder of Remit Resourcing, a division of the broader Remit / RMI group. Rod brings a wealth of experience in consulting to vehicle manufacturers, developing new strategies and programmes, and providing outsource teams to implement these solutions.