Wheely Safe appoints MD to lead new UK franchise

Ian Maynard has been appointed managing director of Wheely-Safe (UK), a new, wholly-owned franchise launched to manage sales and aftersales for the automotive technology firm within its home market.

It marks the first stage in ambitious new growth plans by parent company Wheely-Safe, part of GX2 Technology, to expand with franchises in key international markets. Each franchise will have access to the full suite of award-winning Wheely-Safe systems, which combine protection against wheel loss with brake/hub temperature monitoring and an intelligent tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS).

Maynard joined Wheely-Safe in April 2022 as business development manager and will now focus on leading a team delivering ambitious growth within the LCV, HGV, PSV and OTR fleet sectors nationwide for Wheely-Safe (UK). He brings more than 25 years’ experience in the transport industry, including 16 years with PPG Industries.

Commenting on his appointment, he says: “I am really excited to be heading up the first Wheely-Safe franchise; I’ve had a fantastic first year with the company, and this new structure will allow me and my team to be 100 per cent focused on our customers.”

Wheely-Safe (UK) will operate from the parent company Wheely-Safe’s existing base in Burntwood, Staffordshire, but future franchises will be developed with established local distribution partners, with an initial focus on appointing partners in key markets within Australasia, Europe and North America.

Gary Broadfield, joint-founder and group managing director of Wheely-Safe, says: “We are getting regular enquiries from international fleets which want to fit our patented sensor technology, as they’ve seen the success our products have had with transport companies in the UK.

“Wheely-Safe is poised to expand rapidly in 2023, and we’re confident the franchise model is our most effective route to market on a global scale.”