ATS Euromaster appoints Tye, Zaal for “next phase” of growth

Tyre, fast-fit and service, maintenance and repair (SMR) specialist, ATS Euromaster has appointed Peter Tye to the role of Group Operations director – Retail, and Columba Zaal as Group Operations director – Comprehensive. The company describes the appointments it’s a restructuring of its senior operations team, with Tye and Zaal replacing former Group Operations director Chris Hufflett, who has left ATS-E “to pursue opportunities outside the tyre industry”, according to the company. Tye has a strong record with franchises, joining the company having held senior franchise and operational roles within the Volkswagen Group at Audi and SEAT, and more recently at Goodyear Dunlop, where he was responsible for the development and growth of the HiQ franchise network from 20 to 150 sites. Zaal joined ATS-E in July 2009 on the retail side of the Group’s Operations; his new role will shift his focus to the commercial vehicle side of the business.

Tye has 20 years of experience in the automotive industry, and spent the last six years at Goodyear Dunlop, most recently as Retail director. He will focus mainly on the 169 ATS-E centres that support primarily retail traffic from car and light commercial customers.

Tye, a qualified accountant, started his career within the Volkswagen Group in 1992. He spent his early years in finance before being promoted to senior franchise and operational roles at both Audi and SEAT. In 2006 he entered the tyre industry with Goodyear Dunlop, where he oversaw HiQ’s franchise network, taking it from 20 to 150 sites. Most recently, as Retail director, he ran the HiQ franchise network and the retail partner programme.

Zaal joined ATS-E following six years in senior management at RAC Windscreens.  He has spent the last three years as Operations director – Retail, a position in which he played a key part in the launch of a number of new services across the network. These included the roll-out of scheduled maintenance servicing, fault diagnostics, air-con recharging, computerised wheel alignment and nitrogen tyre inflation.

As Group Operations director – Comprehensive, Zaal will shift his focus to the company’s 199 comprehensive and dedicated truck centres, the former distinguished by their ability to support all vehicle types from cars to heavy trucks. He will also be responsible for a fleet of nearly 1,000 mobile service vans – the largest of its kind in the country.

Commenting on the appointments, Ian Stuart, Group managing director of ATS Euromaster, says: “Peter and Columba take on these new roles following a two year period which has seen more than £14 million invested in our network and expanding SMR portfolio.

“Their combined expertise provides ATS Euromaster with a solid foundation on which to continue the next phase of our company’s growth.  As one of the industry’s rising stars, it’s fantastic to have Peter join the business.” Both Tye and Zaal will report directly to Stuart.