Car Dealer Inspiring Leaders Car Dealer

Sean Kelly, managing director of Vines Group, talks to us about the importance of keeping staff inspired – and his rather unusual path into the motor trade.

Former Marshall Chief Executive Daksh Gupta talks inspiring leadership, when and if he'll return to motor retail, and much more besides.

Inspirational car dealer leader Steven Eagell has talked about how he built his £700m business from just one dealership.

The Toyota and Lexus specialist explains how he started his now 44-site firm after being accepted on Toyota’s sponsored dealer programme and purchasing his first site in Milton Keynes. 

Eagell explains how he built his business up after being accepted on to Toyota’s programme in 2002. He has gone on to create a business that turned over £702m in 2021 (its last available accounts) and made £20.6m profit.

Waylands Automotive CEO John O'Hanlon is the second guest on the Car Dealer Inspiring Leaders Podcast, sponsored by Mann Island Finance. This is a video recording of that podcast which is available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and your other favourite platforms.

John started out in the motor trade as an accountant for Grant Thornton where he worked for nearly eight years.

He then joined the Ridgeway Group in 1998 where he worked for 18 years, first as financial controller, working his way up to brand director and then CEO in 2007.

That car dealer business was eventually sold to Marshall Motor Group for close to £107m in 2016.

In November 2017, he started out on his own, launching Waylands Automotive, first partnering with Volvo Cars.

These days he represents Volvo, Kia, MG and Polestar with sites in Newbury, Oxford, Bristol, Reading and Swindon.

Last year the firm increased profits by nearly 15 per cent, making £3.1m before tax on revenues of £124.6m.

In this podcast he talks about that journey and why anyone in the motor trade can aspire to be the CEO.

Swansway directors Peter, John and David Smyth reveal the ethos behind their successful family car dealer business in this brand new podcast, sponsored by Mann Island Finance.

The firm was started in 2003 by the Smyth brothers’ father, Michael, after more than 35 years' experience in the motor trade, having already founded – and sold on – RRG Group.

Swansway prides itself on being family-run and these days represents Audi, Jaguar Land Rover, Honda, Peugeot, Seat and Volkswagen in the north west. 

The firm also runs a VW commercial vehicle centre, an accident repair site and a number of Motor Match used car dealerships.

Last year the business made £22.3m profit despite a marginal fall of revenue on the previous year to £819m.