Sarah Sillars OBE FIMI Executive Chair, IMI Group

Previously Chief Executive of the IMI, Sarah became Executive Chair in November 2009. Starting her career as a management trainee with Marks & Spencer, later managing stores in Wales and England, Sarah Sillars has more than twenty five years of experience within the motor and retail industry.

Before becoming Chief Executive in 2002, Sarah was previously Operations Director at automotive management consultancy, Anne Gray Associates.

Gerry Bradock IEng AAE FIMI MIRTE MSOE Project Manager, VBRA

Gerry is the Chairman of the Membership Standards and Grading Committee, has
been an IMI Councillor since 1984, and has served on every IMI Committee, dealing with membership matters. Gerry recently lead the review of membership standards and code of practice.

With over 40 years in the motor industry, from Apprentice to Service & Bodyshop manager, through to Group Bodyshop management. Gerry has served as a Project Manager with the Vehicle Builders & Repairers Association, which represents the Body repair Industry.

Edward Clark FIMI - Trustee North Humbersides Motor Trades GTA

Edward has spent a lifetime in the industry since leaving school, commencing with 27 years with the family owned dealership until its sale, then 20 years running the local Group Training Association.

Edward’s interest in training led to his election to the IMI Council at the time of Awarding Body status being attained by the IMI in 1992 and was Honorary Treasurer.

Derek Lockhart C.M.P (COM) M.I.M.I

Derek joined C.R. Morrow Ltd (Bessbrook ) who were Rootes-Talbot & International Tractor Dealers in 1975 as an Apprentice Mechanic.  He was always interested in cars and things mechanical and so was destined for a career in the Motor Industry.

He left in 1982 to join Carparts, part of the C.D. Group . Derek returned to Education in 1990 as a part of the C.D Group's management training programme.

As a part time student, he graduated from the University of Ulster in 1993 with a degree in Management Practice with Commendation.

Derek was invited to join the main Board of Component Distributors  in 1995 and has been a member of the Board since then .

Derek is passionate about the A.T.A  certification scheme. Derek thinks it should be embraced by both young and those more mature members of the industry. He believes this is a positive, forward thinking initiative by the I.M.I for raising standards in the Motor Industry.

He also has a detailed and intimate knowledge of many aspects of the Motor Trade in Ireland.

Steve Nash BA(Hons) FIMI- President of the IMI, Aftersales Director BMW (UK) Ltd.

Steve has worked in the Motor Industry, on both the retail and manufacturer sides, since graduating in 1977. Steve joined BMW in 1986 and has been a Director of the company since 1997, including a period as Group Aftersales Director, looking after the Rover and Land Rover brands as well.

Steve was Chairman of the IMI for five years, before becoming President in November 2009.

Adrian J S Smith FIMI FIoD FCMI - Chairman - Adrian Smith Motors Ltd.

Adrian has operated Adrian Smith Motors as the Saab dealership for the Scottish Grampian Region for 27 years. The dealership has achieved several awards including the prestigious Saab National Dealer of the Year Award, Regional Saab Dealer of the Year, After Sales Dealer of the Year and the Prestige Dealership category of the Automotive Management QSI Awards.

Adrian is chair of the Scottish Employer Forum for the IMI Sector Skills Council and is also chair of Trustees for Grampian Motor Training Trust. He is a member of the Board of Management of Aberdeen College as well as Chairman of Aberdeen Skills and Enterprise Training Ltd.

Adrian is a Director and Immediate Past President of the Scottish Motor Trade Association and a Director and shareholder of Scotia Instrumentation Limited.

Steve Martindale FIMI, General Manager, Honda (UK) Motorcycles

First career step as Apprentice Technician. Progressed into Management in his early 20’s, becoming Area Manager with Renault UK. Since joining Honda in 2004, Steve has occupied roles in Regional Car Sales, National Aftersales, National Car Sales and Company Vehicle Operations before moving in 2007 to his current role of General Manager Honda (UK) Motorcycles.

Honda has been UK market leader for motorcycles for more than a decade and Steve is proud to have lead the team that has developed initiatives that provide the leading spirit for dealers and customers for today and the future. Steve has been a member of the Senior Manager Group in Honda since 2004. He is also a main board director of the MCIA (Motorcycle Industry Association). He was appointed to the board of the IMI (Institute of the Motor Industry) since October 2010 and is focusing on helping the IMI to more closely integrate the world of motorcycles.

Kevin Finn FIMI, Chairmain, Autologic Diagnostics Limited

Current Chairman of Autologic Diagnostics Ltd, before Kevin was Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of National Service Network (NSN). Kevin started the business from the beginning and in seven years the company had an £18m turnover and profit in 5 years and successful sale to a UK PLC in June 2008. Acquired Motor Consult & management (MCM) from 2001 as a loss making business. Over the 5 years established the business as the industry leader, for service and maintenance forecasting data and consultancy services.

Kevin has General Management experience across the retail automotive sector including fleet and leasing, rental, and data. Kevin is currently Chairman and non exec Director of 5 automotive Companies and advisor and panel member of VC funds including Rothschild and Lloyds Development Capital.

Linda Stansfield FIMI, Chief Operating Officer, IMI

Linda Stansfield is the IMI's first Chief Operating Officer and joined the IMI from AGA Performance Ltd, a leading training consultancy, where she worked as the Account Director for the Ford Motor Company at Henry Ford College, Loughborough.

Linda began her career at Marks and Spencer spending 8 years in HR before moving to AGA (Anne Gray Associates). She moved from being a Training Consultant to an HR Specialist within AGA and in 2001 she became the Account Director for Ford.

Within that role Linda was responsible for the contract with Ford Motor Company to manage the Henry Ford College at Loughborough. The contract involved providing an "end to end" outsourced service to help the college deliver staff training in the areas of sales and management development for the Ford Dealer network.

Christopher Thomas, Finance Director, The IMI Group

Chris Thomas is a Chartered Accountant who joined IMI as Finance and IT Director in May 2011. He has over 25 years of experience gained across the private, public and third sectors. In particular, Chris has spent the last 14 years before coming to the IMI as a Finance Director at other organisations including Addaction and SeeAbility.
 
While Chris' roles have always been centred on Finance, he has also been responsible for a variety of other functions within organisations. This has allowed him to gain considerable experience in IT, Human Resources and Corporate Governance among other areas. He is also currently a Trustee of The James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer.

Chris Roberts, FIMI, MSOE, MIRTE, MIOD; Managing Director, Thurlby Motors Ltd

Chris has 29 years' experience in both the retail and manufacturer sides of the industry. Having spent the early part of his career working in many dealer roles, Chris then worked as a business consultant and trainer before joining Vauxhall Motors. The majority of his time at Vauxhall was spent in Strategic Franchising and Business Management, working with businesses in crisis, and leading dealer acquisitions and divestments.

Chris is currently Managing Director of a Lincolnshire based dealer group operating three Vauxhall and one Nissan franchise. Chris sits on Vauxhall Franchise Board and co-chairs the Aftersales Specialist Committee. He is also Managing Director of ResourceBox, a member of the IOD and works with the Lincolnshire EBLO.

Melvin I Rogers FIMI, FCIPD, Director of Human Resources - Sytner Group Limited

Mel started his management career in retail banking and has spent the last 18 years specialising in training, development and human resources.

He joined the LloydsTSB Banking Group in 1980 as a management trainee and progressed through a number of roles before he moved from general to human resource management in 1994. He was the Group Training and Personnel Manager for the Dick Lovett Specialist Cars Group. Mel joined the Sytner Group following the Penske Automotive acquisition in 2002 and is now responsible for the Human Resources, Training and Development function. The Sytner Group is currently ranked 3rd in the Sunday Times Top 25 Best Companies to Work For in the UK. Sytner is the only company in the UK to retain a top six position in this league for the last five years.

Mel is keen to raise the profile of careers in the motor industry and increase the number of young people choosing to take up apprenticeships in the sector. He is also passionate that we should continue to focus upon improving business efficiency through enhancing skills at all levels across the industry.

He was appointed to the Board of the Institute of the Motor Industry in December 2011 and is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). He completed his Post-Graduate studies in Human Resource Management at the University of the West of England in Bristol.

Biographies to follow

Anthony Tomsett MIMI, General Manager - Technical & Logistics, Scania (GB) Limited

Tony Murphy, Policy Director & National Officer, Unite