Laurence Nichols driving Harlow business into new era after 50-year anniversary
Essex garage owner Laurence Nichols has promised to drive his Harlow business into a new era having strengthened ties with the First Stop network on his 50th anniversary in the motor trade. Nichols runs Uncle Tom’s Motorist Centre, which he named after his father who died in 1989. Now 63, the garage owner began his career making the tea for colleagues back in 1972, before his family business fully kicked into gear in 1976. When his father Tom passed away, he decided to change the name of the garage in his memory. He says thoughts of his father continue to spur him on.
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Merityre, Hometyre take wins as Autogem ‘TPMS Expert’ captures imagination
The UK Garage and Bodyshop Event at the Birmingham NEC hosted the finale of Autogem’s inaugural TPMS Expert competition on Wednesday, 8 June. 12 regional finalists assembled on Autogem’s stand to demonstrate their problem-solving skills in front of hundreds of onlookers, including a judging panel of industry experts. Merityre’s Liam Gaynor was crowned TPMS Expert (large retailer) with Hometyre’s Craig Schwartz taking the small retailer award, while all 12 finalists were commended for detecting various TPMS faults quickly and efficiently, communicating them clearly to the panel. Meanwhile Autogem, which has developed the TPMS Expert award over the past few years to help raise standards and awareness about tyre pressure monitoring systems, has been praised by automotive retail bosses and industry experts for its first nationwide competition.
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Lin Junying becomes general manager of Nankang Rubber Tire
Nankang Rubber Tire Corp. Ltd. has announced that it has completed the re-election of directors and appointed Lin Junying as its general manager. According to Taiwan media reports, Lin Junying is the eldest daughter of Lin Xuepu, the deceased honorary chairman of Nankang and also an amateur racing driver.
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Yokohama UK appoints Peter Fairlie as CEO
Following his departure from Prometeon last month, Peter Fairlie has been named as the new CEO of Yokohama HPT Ltd and will officially join the company on 13 July 2022.
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IMI appoints new head of diversity task force
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 head of the organisation’s diversity task force. Established in March 2021 - led by IMI president, Professor Jim Saker and IMI chief operating officer, Lesley Woolley - the diversity task force set out to understand how the motor industry can be a more attractive place to work in for all and bring EDI to the forefront of automotive businesses.
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Prometeon groups UK and Nordic tyre markets following MD’s departure
Prometeon UK managing director Peter Fairlie is set to leave the company on 8 July 2022 to “embrace new professional opportunities”. In a statement announcing the news and organisational changes, Prometeon thanked Fairlie for “services rendered over the past three years and wishe[d] him every success in his future endeavours.”
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R&D boss Seppälä leaves Nokian Tyres
Olli Seppälä, formerly head of research and development at Nokian Tyres, parted ways with the tyre maker last week. The decision to move on after almost two decades wasn’t one taken lightly, Seppälä reports, adding that he leaves a company that “has a stronger product portfolio than ever” as well as “even better products in the pipeline and capable, talented employees who lead and drive the company forward.”
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Gregg Foster appointed field and sales manager for Ascenso Tyres in the UK
Agricultural tyre brand Ascenso has appointed Gregg Foster, of Abbey Tyre Co and BA Bush, as the new Ascenso field and sales manager in the UK following a lengthy interview process. BAB Distribution, BA Bush’s wholesale arm which is the official distribution partner of the brand in the UK, and Ascenso jointly state that Foster performed excellently in the interview stage and his passion for the brand is what ultimately led to his appointment.
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Continental names new tyre business managers
Continental has made three key appointments in its replacement and original equipment tyre businesses. Guido Wolff is now the new Global Account Director Original Equipment. He takes over this position from Dr Jan Oliver Götz, who is now the new Head of OEM Aftersales. Previously in this role, Jobst Schwarz has now taken over Key Account Management Replacement Business Germany from Guido Wolff.
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Giorgio Luca Bruno named Pirelli’s next CEO
Giorgio Luca Bruno will succeed Marco Tronchetti Provera as chief executive officer of Pirelli. In a statement published on Monday, Pirelli investor Camfin S.p.A announced that Bruno will take responsibility for the operational implementation of the group’s strategies, freeing Tronchetti Provera to guide group strategy and oversee the implementation of the Pirelli business plan as executive vice-chairman, a role he is confirmed to hold until spring 2026. Camfin views the transition as one that ensures the “continuation of the managerial culture of Pirelli.”
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New CEO at Hankook Networks
Hankook Networks is the IT and logistics engineering arm of Hankook & Company and is tasked with enhancing the group’s competitiveness by utilising and applying its latest IT and digital technologies to other affiliate companies, including Hankook Tire & Technology. As of 2 May 2022, the business is being led by a new chief executive officer, Youngmin Cho.
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Pierre Michelin moves closer to the ‘family-origin’ business
Following the publication of Michelin’s first quarter 2022 financial results, group CEO Florent Menegaux commented on the appointment of Pierre Michelin as president of the Michelin family’s Mage-Invest holding company. Mage-Invest holds 4.2 per cent of the shares and 7 per cent of the voting rights of Michelin Group.
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B&J Rocket appoints Karam key account manager; Wolf joins Kraiburg Austria
Marcos Guzman, president of B&J Rocket, reports that the retreading equipment specialist has appointed Humberto Karam its key account manager in Europe. Karam succeeds Christian Wolf, who has taken on the role of product manager at Kraiburg Austria.
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Black Bear appoints commercial director
Netherlands-based tyre upcycling company Black Bear has named Richard Dikkers its new commercial director. Black Bear says he “brings extensive knowledge and experience” to his new position, where he will support the company’s circular economy-based business model.
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Jason Clarke appointed to ETB wholesale department
Jason Clarke has joined retail network ETB’s wholesale department, heading a list of structural changes at the company. The Welsh tyre trade expert has 25 years’ industry experience, including positions at Cooper Avon, United Tyres, Malvern Tyres, and King David Tyres. Other changes at ETB include Dave Isles’ promotion to operations director, overseeing all ETB wholesale warehouses, and sales manager Ashley Harford, who now runs the sales team from the company’s Blackpole office. Finally, Gemma Ivill will shortly take up a role of supporting ETB’s margin improvement plan to help with its continuing and ambitious expansion programme.
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