People News

Women in Engineering Day: Hayley Pells MSc CAE FIMI, Head of Garage IAAF
Date: Friday 24 June 2022
Thursday 23 June was International Women in Engineering Day (IWED), a global day celebrating the amazing work that female engineers around the world are doing to support lives and livelihoods every da…

HELLA recruits Ian Boyle as its UK Sales & Marketing Director
Date: Monday 20 June 2022
HELLA, the renowned original equipment (OE) manufacturer and system supplier, has appointed experienced aftermarket professional Ian Boyle to the position of Sales & Marketing Director for its aft…

Bob Sockl, RIP
Date: Thursday 16 June 2022
It is with great sadness that we we learned of the death of the founder of Aftermarket magazine, Bob Sockl, who passed away last weekend aged 75, following a long illness. Bob was born in London in 19…

New appointment at Motul UK - Has Tahier, Technical Specialist
Date: Thursday 16 June 2022
Motul is delighted to announce the appointment of Hasanaat Tahier, who takes up the role as Motul UK Technical Specialist, with immediate effect. This is the latest move in Motul’s strengthening of it…

IMI appoints new Head of Diversity Task Force
Date: Wednesday 25 May 2022
Endorsing its continued commitment to embrace Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) within the automotive sector, the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has appointed Vijayacittā Harvey as Interim …

Exol’s Shawn Smith competes in pool tournament
Date: Monday 25 April 2022
Exol Lubricants’ Shawn Smith is taking part in the Leicester Pool Tour Amateur Series pool tournament, with a total prize fund of £38,400 available. Smith, based at Exol’s Wednesbury site in the small…

Shaftec announces key appointments to drive business growth
Date: Wednesday 20 April 2022
Having entered 2022 in its strongest position yet, Shaftec has announced two important management level appointments to ensure the business is best placed for success within its chosen markets as it e…

Team Building at Lucas Oil
Date: Wednesday 13 April 2022
Lucas Oil Products (UK) has added two new members. Both will be based the company’s headquarters in Anglesey, North Wales. Roo Pitt (pictured above left) becomes Marketing Coordinator. He will take ch…

Andrew Tsang joins Comline as UK sales general manager
Date: Wednesday 13 April 2022
Comline has announced the appointment of Andrew Tsang to the senior management position of UK sales general manager. Andrew assumes responsibility for overseeing UK sales of the Comline, Motaquip and …

Ring Automotive welcomes new area sales manager
Date: Wednesday 13 April 2022
Ring Automotive has appointed Ben Johnson as its new area sales manager, to oversee management of its aftermarket accounts across the south of England. Johnson’s new role will see him manage Ring Auto…

Hayley Pells, Avia Autos, joins IAAF Council
Date: Friday 18 March 2022
The IAAF has formed its new look council including distributors, suppliers, buying groups, service providers and garages, who come together regularly to debate industry issues and IAAF policy, ensurin…

Autotech Training appoints first Managing Director dedicated to the brand
Date: Friday 18 March 2022
Autotech Training has appointed Colin Gleghorn as Managing Director. The decision to create a Managing Director position responsible solely for Autotech Training, which is a division of Autotech Group…

Tony East RIP
Date: Friday 18 March 2022
The IAAF has just learned that Tony East, founder of ARE and also founder of the ARE Classic Motorcycle collection in Kirk Michael on the Isle of Man, passed away peacefully on Saturday 26 February 20…

BM Catalysts appoints new purchasing manager
Date: Friday 18 March 2022
UK manufacturer of catalytic converters, DPFs and front pipes, BM Catalysts, has appointed David Chester as its new purchasing manager. With 12 years’ experience in UK manufacturing, Chester’s main ob…

LKQ Euro Car Parts concludes International Women’s Day celebrations with Automotive 30% Club patronage announcement
Date: Thursday 17 March 2022
Annick Jourdenais, CFO of LKQ Euro Car Parts, has become a patron of the Automotive 30% Club, to conclude the business’ busy week of International Women’s Day celebrations. The Automotive 30% Club was…

Ernst Prost appeals for help for Ukraine
Date: Wednesday 02 March 2022
The war in Ukraine will directly impact the German lubricant company. “We can write off our business in Russia,” says outgoing Managing Director Ernst Prost, who, in view of the war, expects to lose a…

Ring expands team with Area Sales Manager addition
Date: Tuesday 01 March 2022
Ring Automotive has enhanced its ever-growing team with the addition of area sales manager, Kevin Petrie, who will support all trade customers in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Joining from a wholesal…

Personnel changes to the HELLA Management Board: Michel Favre becomes Chief Executive Officer; Yves Andres takes over the Lighting Business Group
Date: Monday 28 February 2022
During its recent meeting, the HELLA Shareholder Committee resolved on the appointment of Michel Favre and Yves Andres as new members of the Management Board of HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA. Michel Favre…

Leeds workwear specialists Involution appoint new director
Date: Wednesday 23 February 2022
Leeds branded workwear specialists Involution has appointed Nathan Cookson as its new Operations Director. Nathan previously held the position of Strategic Development Manager, working alongside depar…

Rob Hope joins NGK sales team
Date: Friday 18 February 2022
Ignition and sensor specialist NGK Spark Plugs (UK) Ltd has appointed Rob Hope as a new Sales Representative. The 46-year-old will cover a sales area that includes parts of Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridge…

Autotech Group creates Group Quality Manager role
Date: Thursday 10 February 2022
Autotech Group has strengthened its management team by creating a Group Quality Manager position, appointing Dominic Hunter to take on the role. The automotive employment and training solutions provid…

New Chief Executive Officer – GiPA group
Date: Friday 04 February 2022
GiPA has announced the appointment of Almudena Benedito as CEO of GiPA group, effective 1st February 2022. Almudena is replacing Eric Devos who remains President of GiPA Group. She will be responsible…

First Line Ltd. kickstarts 2022 by bolstering its sales team
Date: Monday 24 January 2022
First Line Ltd. has kickstarted the new year by further strengthening its sales team announcing a new appointment and promotion, as it gears up for another successful and productive 12 months. Chris P…

New appointment for Melett to support digital marketing activity
Date: Thursday 09 December 2021
Automotive aftermarket turbocharger specialist, Melett, has announced the appointment of Rebecca Johnson as Marketing Executive, to help develop and support the brand’s marketing activities. Johnson h…

Senior appointments at LKQ Collision & Coatings to bring benefits for customers
Date: Thursday 25 November 2021
LKQ Collision & Coatings has announced a raft of senior appointments that will strengthen its relationships with LKQ Euro Car Parts and LKQ Europe, and enhance the products and solutions it offers…

New Customer Service Coordinator
Date: Thursday 25 November 2021
Mr. Anthony Lowery has recently joined the team from Diesel Technic UK & Ireland LTD. on November 1, 2021 and will support us as Customer Service Coordinator from now on. Anthony has been working …

ZF Services UK promotes Alex Acosta
Date: Thursday 25 November 2021
ZF Services UK has promoted Alex Acosta to Partner Manager, highlighting the commercial vehicle specialist’s longstanding commitment to investing in technical expertise, sales support and its expandin…

MAHLE - new appointment of Andy Lees
Date: Thursday 25 November 2021
Andy Lees has joined MAHLE Aftermarket, taking on the role of General Manager for the UK, to help support and guide the UK team. With a background in sales and managerial roles within the automotive a…

BM Catalysts exceed expectations inside and outside of work through charity endeavours
Date: Friday 12 November 2021
Over the last few months, the BM Catalysts team has been taking on some impressive fundraising challenges, covering a combined total of over 150 kilometres and raising over £8,000 for their respective…

New appointment for SMP Europe
Date: Monday 25 October 2021
Engine management and ignition specialists, SMP Europe, has appointed Martin Turner as Marketing Director, to oversee all commercial and product marketing activities with suppliers, buying groups and …

Spinning for The Stroke Association
Date: Thursday 14 October 2021
Nick Racklyeft of Corteco is doing a sponsored bike spinning event throughout October to help raise funds for the Stroke Association. His aim is to do 250 miles on his spin bike which, considering his…

MAHLE new appointment
Date: Thursday 14 October 2021
Continuing its tradition of promoting from within, MAHLE Aftermarket has promoted Nick Pye (pictured) to Senior Sales Manager, while maintaining responsibility for his key accounts in the South region…

OPTIMAL UK announces company ownership changes
Date: Thursday 30 September 2021
Automotive parts business OPTIMAL UK Distribution Ltd. has announced changes in its ownership, with LKQ Europe selling its shares in the business. Midlands-headquartered OPTIMAL UK was established in …

The Parts Alliance appoints Mark Eburne as new President and COO
Date: Thursday 23 September 2021
Leading automotive parts distributor The Parts Alliance has appointed Mark Eburne as its new President and COO. Mark is an entrepreneurial business leader with extensive board experience at a number o…

New appointment for WAI
Date: Wednesday 22 September 2021
Leading automotive parts supplier, WAI, has announced the appointment of Richard Davies as Business Development Manager, to help develop WAI’s activity in the commercial vehicle (CV), passenger car (P…

MAHLE appoints Jessica Wacogne
Date: Thursday 26 August 2021
Jessica Wacogne has joined MAHLE Aftermarket, taking the role as Head of Customer Service. Skilled in purchasing, management, pricing, sales, continuous improvement and customer satisfaction Wacogne b…

Celebration of the life of Steve Fisher
Date: Monday 23 August 2021
Apec Braking have confirmed that there will be a Celebration of the Life of Steve Fisher on Thursday 7th October 2021 at Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol from 12 noon to 4.00 p.m. If you would like to att…

ILC The Climb postponed and challengers to tackle epic National 3 Peaks
Date: Friday 20 August 2021
Automotive industry charity, Ben, has announced that its Industry Leader Challenge (ILC) fundraiser, The Climb, has been postponed as Tanzania remains on the travel red list. It’s hoped that the even…

NGK announces Ireland sales roles
Date: Thursday 19 August 2021
Ignition and sensor specialist NGK has announced that two staff members have taken on the responsibility for sales in Ireland following the recent retirement of Area Manager Stewart Neill. Tim Ward, D…

Tim to embark on charity cycle ride
Date: Thursday 19 August 2021
Rugby League supporter Tim Ward, of NGK, is taking part in a charity cycle ride to raise funds for those involved in the sport. The Leeds Rhinos fan is to undertake a 200-mile route on September 24-26…

NGK welcomes Chris Barrett to sales team
Date: Thursday 22 July 2021
Ignition and sensor specialist NGK Spark Plugs (UK) Ltd has appointed Chris Barrett as a new Sales Representative. The 53-year-old takes over the Home Counties and ‘M1 Corridor’ area previously covere…

LIQUI MOLY's Ernst Prost announces his retirement
Date: Friday 09 July 2021
Ernst Prost, who has led LIQUI MOLY for 31 years, has announced that he will be retiring on 22 February 2022, which he thinks should be an easy date to remember. He has always stated that the basic ph…

Stewart says farewell to NGK
Date: Thursday 01 July 2021
Stewart Neill, Area Manager – Ireland, NGK Spark Plugs (UK) Ltd, is retiring after more than thirty years’ service with the company. He will leave at the end of July after helping establish the igniti…

Dayco welcomes Kevin Lee
Date: Thursday 01 July 2021
Dayco, a leading original equipment (OE) engine products and drive systems supplier for the automotive, industrial and aftermarket industries, has recruited Kevin Lee as the latest member of its UK sa…

Martin Klein new Sales Manager for Central Europe, Middle East, and Africa
Date: Thursday 01 July 2021
Martin Klein is heading Schaeffler's Automotive Aftermarket Sales in Central Europe, Middle East, and Africa. The 56-year-old business economist has assumed the newly created position effective as of …

IAAF Treasurer Lawrence Bleasdale becomes FIGIEFA treasurer
Date: Thursday 24 June 2021
IAAF Honorary Treasurer Lawrence Bleasdale has also become Treasurer of European automotive aftermarket trade federation FIGIEFA. The TMD Friction UK employee has been heavily involved with IAAF for m…

Neil Croxson to leave The Parts Alliance
Date: Thursday 17 June 2021
Neil Croxson, who will be leaving at the end of June, has headed The Parts Alliance for two years, navigating the challenges of the pandemic alongside their growth ambitions. Croxson said: “It has bee…

New Vice President for KYB Europe
Date: Wednesday 05 May 2021
Yuto Uchida has replaced Tetsunosuke Nagasawa as Vice President of KYB Europe GmbH. Uchida first joined KYB in April 2003 straight after graduating from university. He has previously worked at KYB Ame…

Autotech Academy announces School of Thought ambassador role
Date: Thursday 29 April 2021
Autotech Academy’s National Careers Manager, Dave Walker, has become the 100th ambassador for School of Thought. The not-for-profit organisation consisting of people from the automotive industry colla…

IFA appoints Steve Jones as Commercial Manager
Date: Friday 23 April 2021
Due to the continued growth and success of the IFA CV Division the IFA is pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Jones into the position of Commercial Manager with immediate effect. Steve has wo…