After 27 years on the helm of top 10 AM100 group Arnold Clark, Eddie Hawthorne is to step down as chief executive and group managing director on 28 March.
Russell Borrie, the corporate’s current chief operating officer, has been appointed as his successor.
“It’s been a privilege to steer Arnold Clark for such a protracted time period,” Hawthorne said.
“I’m incredibly pleased with what we’ve achieved and of our employees, who’ve shown resilience and dedication through some difficult years. I even have full confidence within the leadership team to proceed steering the business in the correct direction.”
Borrie, who will officially take over as chief executive, expressed his gratitude for Hawthorne’s leadership and the trust placed in him by the board.
“Eddie’s vision, insight, and dedication have been instrumental in our success,” Borrie said. “Even in difficult times, his ability to show challenges into opportunities has strengthened the business. I’m honoured to tackle this role and lead Arnold Clark into the longer term.”
Borrie will likely be supported by John Clark, chief industrial officer, and David Cooper, chief financial officer, as the corporate moves forward under its recent leadership structure.
While stepping away from his executive role, Hawthorne will remain on the essential board in a mentoring and oversight capability.
His leadership has been pivotal in shaping Arnold Clark into one in all the UK’s largest and most successful automotive retailers.
In 2017, following the death of Sir Arnold Clark, Hawthorne told Automotive Management about how he got here to hitch the motor retail industry and the way he experienced Sir Arnold’s willingness to strike a fast deal early on.
“I remember the primary time we met. I used to be a fresh-faced, non-grey-haired worker of the business’s official auditor 30 years ago. On the day I finished, he said ‘I’ll see you next yr’. I said ‘no you won’t, I’m seeking to get out of the career and into industry’. He said ‘come and work for me’.
“He handled me right there, on the spot. After 20 minutes, I used to be working for Arnold Clark.”
With 12,000 employees, Arnold Clark is one in all the UK’s most influential motor groups. Under Hawthorne’s leadership, Arnold Clark has solidified its position as a large within the UK automotive retail sector. A consistent force within the AM100 rankings, the corporate secured the second spot in the newest rankings, boasting a powerful £366.1 million in earnings and a turnover of £4.92 billion, meriting the status because the UK’s most profitable automobile dealer group.
A relentless pursuit of growth has defined Hawthorne’s tenure with strategic acquisitions pivotal to the dealership group’s success.
December 2024 saw several ambitious deals. That month, Arnold Clark expanded its Renault and Dacia footprint by acquiring dealerships in Birkenhead and Liverpool to strengthen its nationwide presence with the addition of 17 key sales points along with acquiring Wingrove Motor Company, a family-run business with a 99-year legacy within the North East. The identical month saw the corporate announce an exclusive partnership with Corvette, introducing right-hand drive models tailored for the UK market.
With over 200 dealerships representing greater than 25 manufacturers, Hawthorne has built a dealership titan that today offers over 20,000 vehicles in stock at anyone time.
This Article First Appeared At www.am-online.com
