Throughout his senior leadership career on both sides of the OEM-retailer divide, Jon Wakefield has been driven by two principles: delivering commercial results while continuously learning and developing. Lynda Ennis: You’ve held senior leadership roles across OEMs and retail groups within the UK and Europe. Start by talking me through your career journey, and some...Read More

James Cameron, CEO of armed forces charity Mission Motorsport and advocacy body Mission Community, honed his leadership skills during a 17-year military career before switching to the third sector. He talks to Al Clarke, Chairman of the Ennis & Co Advisory Group, about his pathway and the skills that make great leaders. AL CLARKE: You’ve...Read More

During his time as CEO of SMMT, Mike Hawes has had to contend with Dieselgate, Brexit, Covid and numerous global pressures on the UK automotive industry. He talks to Lynda Ennis, Co-founder and CEO of Ennis & Co Group, about the importance of remaining calm and consistent in a crisis. Take me through your career...Read More

Mike Flewitt, former CEO of McLaren Automotive and now a consultant and board chairman, says he has never considered himself the best at anything but has achieved results by harnessing the talents of others. He tells Lynda Ennis, Co-founder and CEO of Ennis & Co Group, that leadership is essentially about people. You’ve had a...Read More

Ennis & Co Group, the global automotive executive search and talent research company, have announced the return of the Bunny Ennis Fund – an annual award to support the training needs of an individual in the automotive industry.  Now in its second year, the Bunny Ennis Fund was created in memory of Bernard ‘Bunny’ Ennis,...Read More

After a long and successful leadership career on the brand side at Toyota, Porsche and JLR and the retail side at Vertu Motors, Andy Goss tells Al Clarke, Chairman of the Ennis & Co Advisory Group, that experiencing life on both sides of the fence brings huge added value to aspiring automotive leaders. AL CLARKE:...Read More

As a turnaround specialist, Andrew Burn has worked with several automotive suppliers and OEMs and has gained a first-hand view of the challenges facing the sector. He talks to Lynda Ennis, Co-founder and CEO of Ennis & Co Group, about legacy leadership styles and the need for behaviours based on honesty and respect. LYNDA ENNIS:...Read More

The new entrants arriving in the mature UK car and van market aren’t just rocking the boat, they’re challenging the established order in every aspect of distribution and retail. The most visible aspect is retail price, with headline grabbing numbers that pose an existential threat to some legacy brands and products. In a market where...Read More

From washing cars at a Ford dealership to running Stratstone, Inchcape UK and Lookers, James Brearley has enjoyed a spectacular career in the automotive industry, including 24 years at Pendragon. He discusses his career and his thoughts about leadership with Lynda Ennis, Co-founder and CEO of Ennis & Co Group. Lynda Ennis: Can you walk...Read More

Lesley Slater, Chief Commercial Officer of Athlon UK, is proof you don’t have to hop from company to company to become a senior leader. She discusses loyalty and longevity with Al Clarke, Chairman of the Ennis & Co Advisory Group – and reflects on her initial board invitation with the benefit of experience, highlighting a...Read More