“I’m always at 100%. I love it.” The opening gambit of Livingstone Motor Group managing director and the 2022 AM Awards DP/GM of the Year Andrew Iveson gave an initial insight into the mindset of the man who has driven a complete strategic restructure for the Hull-based car retail business since early 2021.

When Mitsubishi departed the UK market its 103 franchisees had their entrepreneurialism put to the test and Iveson’s energy has clearly seen his Hull-based operation pass with flying colours.

Following the news that Hull Mitsubishi – a franchisee of the Japanese brand for more than 30 years – would lose its only retail partner he moved to complete a management buy-out (MBO) as he looked to realise his vision of giving the business and its workforce a new lease of life.

What followed was a rebrand as Livingstone Motor Group – completed in consultation with staff – and the introduction of Isuzu UK, SsangYong and Subaru to a single multi-brand dealership.

“I had 20 faces looking at me to solve this problem,” Iveson recalled of the start of the business’s make-or-break pivotal period of change in his AM Awards submission.