Vertu chief technology officer appointment marks 'further step change' in tech focus

Vertu Motors has declared that its promotion of IT director Bruce Clark into the newly-created role of chief technology officer marks “a further step change in its focus on technology".

Clark’s promotion will see him lead a 50-strong inhouse software and robotics development team working on the progressive development of the AM100 PLC’s Click2Drive online car retail platform as well as fine-tuning customer and vehicle data analytics and addressing cyber security threats.

His remit will also cover oversight of IT operations providing IT hardware and connectivity to the group's sales and aftersales outlets.

Vertu Motors chief executive Robert Forrester said: “I am delighted to welcome Bruce into a new role and onto the CEO Committee. 

“Vertu has long led the sector from a technology perspective, as illustrated by our offering full online sales of used cars ahead of anyone else back in 2017, and these changes will equip Vertu with the necessary skills and strategies to drive our omni-channel offering into the next decade and beyond.”

Vertu’s bolstering of its leadership in technology come just over three months after it recruited Auto Trader franchise brand director Chris Penny as its new group strategic projects director.

The group said at the time that Penny, who had been with the online car retail marketplace for more than a decade, would be central to its development of omnichannel car retail solutions for its customers.

Newly-promoted Clark joined Vertu in 2013 and has been the IT Director for the last two years.

His promotion gives him a place on the Group's CEO Committee.

Vertu said in a statement that it also marked “a further step change in its focus on technology strategy and the management bandwidth to deliver the group's strategic technology plans”. 

It added: “Further recruitment will now commence to replace Bruce's previous role and for a new Head of Data.

“These two recruits will join a team of 110 colleagues charged with equipping Vertu with robust internal systems and delivering a sector leading omni-channel retail environment encompassing sales and aftersales operations.”