AM Online

Ex-Mitsubishi UK MD Rob Lindley joins Ennis & Co as associate

Rob Lindley,  the managing director of Mitsubishi Motor UK

Former Mitsubishi Motors in the UK managing director, Rob Lindley, has joined Ennis & Co as an associate.

Mitsubishi Motors UK appointed Lindley as managing director in 2018 and in 2019 he outlined his five-year plan for growth for the Japanese brand in conversation with AM.

In 2020, however, Lindley said he expected “no mass exodus” of car dealers from the brand’s franchised UK retail network after the Mitsubishi UK operations owner, the Colt Car Company, wrote to its 103 franchisees to inform them that the brand’s Mid-Term Plan would mean an immediate freeze on new models entering the European market. 

During his automotive career, Lindley has also held the roles as marketing director, sales director and MD at Mazda Motors UK, sales and marketing director at McLaren Group, various roles in the UK and Europe at Ford Motor Company, and VP and MD Europe, Middle East and Africa at Harley-Davidson Motor Company. 

Lindley's marketing and management experience has culminated in his status as a non-executive director and property investor, Ennis & Co said.

Lynda Ennis, founder at Ennis & Co, wrote on LinkedIn: “I have had the pleasure of working with Rob for a number of years from both a candidate and client perspective. He brings forth a wealth of experience in managing and leading change within large global automotive organisations.

“I know the Ennis & Co team and our wider panel of Associates very much look forward to working with Rob on many of our exciting upcoming projects. Rob is another individual dedicated to driving change within our weird and wonderful industry- and I look forward to this unfolding.”

Lindley said: “I am thrilled to join Ennis & Co as an associate. I have had the pleasure of working with Lynda and the team for several years as both a candidate and a hiring client and Ennis & Co have always done an outstanding job.

“Moreover, I believe that the values of Ennis & Co’s reflect a business that is dedicated to driving positive change and to improving the sector. If I can make a contribution to that through my role as an associate, then I will be absolutely delighted.”

The latest AM industry special issue

The complexity of running a modern dealership can be misunderstood easily by people looking in on our industry.

Any general manager has so many plates to spin, and they must foster a talented team that they can rely on to not just do the basics well, but to sprinkle some magic on top that customers can notice.

If the marketplace in 2023 is steadily returning to relative normality, this normality now includes the drive to find customers for an increasing supply of electric vehicles, and the need to source used cars from all channels and market them carefully. And of course there are the desires to delight consumers with an omnichannel experience and to hold on to decent margins after a couple of years of strong profitability.

The expectations of both the customer and the business’s stakeholder must be achieved to the optimum level.

In this special digital publication, industry experts, prominent suppliers and franchised dealers share their insights on the major aspects required in running a modern dealership well.

Read now

Click here for talent & people best practice and procurement insight

If you are not a registered user your comment will go to AM for approval before publishing. To avoid this requirement please register or login.

Login to comment

Comments

No comments have been made yet.