Bristol Street Motors Hyundai welcomes Neil Bianchi as general manager

Vertu Motors' Bristol Street Motors Silverlink Hyundai car dealership has welcomed Neil Bianchi as its new general manager.

Bianchi, who has worked for the group for eight years, is moving to the Silverlink dealership from its operation in Darlington.

Vertu Motors said he has worked in the motor retail industry for almost 30 years, since starting out as junior sales executive.

Robert Forrester, chief executive of Bristol Street Motors, said: “I am delighted to welcome Neil as the new general manager at our Bristol Street Motors Silverlink Hyundai site.

"Neil has been a committed member of the Bristol Street Motors team for a number of years now, and I’m pleased to see his career go from strength to strength.

“This is an exciting time for Bristol Street Motors. We are investing in growing our portfolio and sales have remained strong despite dealership being unable to open to customers."

Forrester said online sales and video and phone appointments have contributed to a "solid performance" amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“I am delighted that we are now able to welcome customers back into our dealerships, and I know our dealerships are ready to provide the impeccable face-to-face service we pride ourselves on," said Forrester.

Forrester recently said the AM100 PLC will continue to drive a “big brand” profile after adding 30 car retail outlets in 15 months.

In the reported period Vertu added 18 sales outlets, including the addition of new franchise partners BMW, Mini and BMW Motorrad through the £19.6m December acquisition of Inchcape’s Cooper division.

Two months earlier it had acquired Sandicliffe’s Nottingham Kia business for £1.9m. That business has now been consolidated into the group’s Volkswagen franchise at West Bridgford, Nottingham.

Vertu’s multi-franchising strategy saw the Citroen brand added to its existing Ford dealership operations in Worcester and Macclesfield, meanwhile, as the group also added Peugeot to an Edinburgh dealership which already represented Kia, Suzuki and Mitsubishi.

Commenting on the appointment, Bianchi said: “I’m really excited about my new role at Bristol Street Motors Silverlink Hyundai. The dealership is one of our newer businesses, it has amazing facilities and I am looking forward to taking on this new challenge with a fantastic brand.

“Since I joined the group in 2013, there has been a very clear progression strategy for me, which was a clear advantage when joining Bristol Street Motors.

"I knew if I invested my skills, effort and time with the group they would invest, support, coach and mentor me which is a great feeling.”