New operations director for Dealer Services at Manheim

Manheim has appointed Andy Coulthurst to the role of operations director – dealer services.

Coulthurst has more than 30 years’ experience of the car sales industry, joining UK Car Group as a 15 year-old parts assistant and leaving as sales director in 2007. He has spent the past four years as group sales director at JCT600, where he was part of the team delivering year on year record retail unit sales.

Manheim, which recently acquired Motors.co.uk, is focused on creating further alignment across its dealer product portfolio in the UK. As operations director – dealer services, Coulthurst will work with dealers to drive performance through innovation and best practice. He will be based at the group’s retail headquarters in Adlington, Cheshire.

Coulthurst said: “When you combine the speed of technological advance with the challenges of the current European economic climate, one is faced with two choices – keep doing what you’ve always done or work to understand and maximise the opportunities for delivering customer value. At Manheim, we’re firmly in the latter camp and are focused on assisting our partners to make the most of our existing and upcoming market-leading products in order to sell more cars, more easily and more profitably. I am excited to be joining Manheim at an exciting time for the group.”

John Bailey, ceo, Manheim UK and international, added: “Andy brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise from the dealer side of the fence, as well as a strong commercial focus and a passion for driving innovation. We’re delighted to welcome him on board as we continue to develop our manufacturer and dealer offering in the UK.”

Other senior management changes include John Simpson, Manheim retail services managing director, who will become the director of strategic projects reporting to Mike Pilkington in his newly formed role of chief strategy officer, UK and international, to help drive wider UK and international strategy for the Manheim Group.

Bailey continued: “John Simpson has made tremendous changes to the Retail Services division of Manheim and will be instrumental in using this business acumen to help shape wider strategic projects moving forward. If we are to continue to grow our business in a rapidly changing and challenging market place over the next five years, we need to rethink our approach. The strengthening of Manheim’s senior management team with these appointments is a further step in reinforcing our position as the leading automotive services company in the UK.”