Chapelhouse Motor Group has started the new year with new managing director following the promotion of operations director Phil Clay.

The Warrington-based car retail group, which recently celebrated 2021/22 financial results that generated a 27.2% rise in turnover and pre-tax profits up 50.5%, said it would aim to deliver “sustainable growth and improvements” under its new leadership.

In a statement issued to AM the business said that its former MD Nick Coen had “stepped down”, but no further detail was provided about his departure.

Clay joined Chapelhouse as group aftersales manager in 2015 before being invited to join its board, as aftersales director, in 2017. He became group operations director in 2019.

Commening on his appointment as managing director, Clay said: “I’m absolutely delighted and honoured to take the role and want to take this opportunity to thank the teams at Chapelhouse for their ongoing hard work and commitment.

“As we move into 2023, we will face many ongoing challenges, but we will continue to move the business forward, and of course, put the customer at the heart of everything we do.” 

Chapelhouse grew its car retail operations in 2019 through the acquisition of Suzuki franchises in Bolton and Blackburn and a Citroen franchise in Wigan from Bolton Car Company.

At the time the move took its number of sites to nine and turnover to £58.7m (2018).

In February 2020 it added new MG Motor UK car dealerships in St Helens and Southport to its franchise portfolio.

Further growth, including the recent opening of a new Suzuki dealership in Blackpool, means that Chapelhouse now represents Kia (3), Suzuki (8) and MG (4) at 15 franchised locations throughout the North West and has approved aftersales franchises with Fiat, Vauxhall, Citroen and Peugeot.

In 2021/22 turnover reached £95.1 million as profit before tax increased from £3.3m to £5m.

A statement announcing Clay’s appointment as MD revealed that the business has also Chapelhouse made improvements through the provision of increased holiday entitlement for staff to promote a better work-life balance.

It also provided a cost-of-living support payment and has also introduced a holiday apartment allowing staff to spend a week with their family or friends free of charge in Cala D’or, Majorca.

The statement added: “2023 is going to bring lots of external challenges as we continue to battle the aftermath of Covid, rising interest rates, and cost of living increases, however, Chapelhouse will be striving to make more improvements to staff benefits to support them in these difficult times and reward them for their hard work and loyalty.”