Pendragon has welcomed former AutoNation president and chief executive William Berman as its new independent non-executive director as Gillian Kent stands down.

Berman joins the AM100 retail group today (April 18) and will serve on its Nomination Committee, Remuneration Committee and Audit Committee, with Kent stepping aside "to pursue other interests" on the same day.

Pendragon said in a statement that Berman was joining the business following an extensive executive career with AutoNation, the largest automotive retailer in America, where he served as president and chief operating officer until April 2017. 

Berman was responsible for AutoNation’s 26,000 associates and the operational performance of the company’s 300-plus new vehicle franchises, including new and used vehicle sales. 

Pendragon chairman, Chris Chambers, said: “I am really pleased that Bill has agreed to join our Board. 

“His significant and extensive experience in automotive retail makes him an ideal addition to our board as we continue our own transformation and progress towards achieving our strategic objectives.”

Commenting on Kent’s departure from the board, Chambers said: “I would like to thank Gillian for her significant contribution since joining the Board. The Board wish her well in her chosen future activities.”

Pendragon said that, given that Berman’s agreement to join the Board had come when the notice of the Company’s 2019 Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) has already been circulated to shareholders, and is so soon before the AGM, its Board did not consider it appropriate to put forward a resolution to re-appoint Mr Berman at the 2019 AGM. 

Instead, Berman’s appointment will lapse at the 2019 AGM, and he will be re-appointed by the Board immediately following the 2019 AGM, with a resolution proposing his re-appointment being proposed to shareholders at the 2020 AGM.

The Board intends to withdraw resolution number 7 set out in the notice of meeting dated 21 March 2019 relating to the re-election of Gillian Kent as a director.