A Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) board member has turned down a position with Auto Body Professionals Club so he can remain with the RMI.

RMI board member Tony Lowe, of Impact Repair Centre Ltd, Birmingham, was given the opportunity to join ABP Club as a non-executive director, but believes the RMI best represents the needs of the body repair sector.

 He says: “I confirm my full commitment to the RMI, which is the only organisation with the strength and ability to fight for body repair businesses. I need to devote more time to RMI duties.”

We are delighted by Tony’s decision to remain within the RMI.

Matthew Carrington, RMI chief executive

The man at the centre of the row

When contacted by AM, Tony Lowe of Impact Repair Centre said: “Basically it’s an allocation of time issue. I’ll be spending more time with the RMIF. I don’t want to comment more at this stage –I might be able to enlighten you in a few months’ time.

“The press release didn’t read particularly well, but that’s how these things are sometimes.”

RIGHT TO REPLY

Club and RMI membership shouldn’t clash

The ABP Club received the RMI’s release (see above) with a mixture of flattery and amusement. Flattery – because the RMI, with a membership of around 10,000 businesses from within the retail motor sector, finds it necessary to issue a statement regarding a clash it perceives with the ABP Club, which has a membership of 158 executives from 73 businesses.

Amusement – because the RMI is referring to something involving Tony Lowe which happened in December, 2004. Tony Lowe has been a non-executive director of the RMI since May 2003.

He was one of the founding members of the ABP Club at its launch in September, 2004 and he remains a valued Platinum member.

At the Club’s first meeting on October 21, 2004, Tony accepted our invitation to become a non-executive director of the Auto Body Professionals Club Ltd (ABP Club). On December 5, 2004, Tony emailed the ABP Club:

“It is with regret that I feel I have to decline the non-exec position that you so kindly offered me on the ABP Club board. I know you are keen to grow the Club and I feel that you will need someone who will be able to spend more time than I can.

I would like to continue in membership with the ABP Club and can assure you that I have already had considerable benefit from membership.”

The ABP Club is a members-only Club for professionals – it is not a trade association. We see no conflict between an individual being a member of the ABP Club and their business belonging to a trade association.

David Cresswell, chairman, ABP Club