Unipart Group has announced the retirement of its Founder and Govt Chairman, Dr John M. Neill CBE, after an notorious occupation spanning 5 decades.
John Neill’s gallop began with Classic Motors, the build he fleet rose to became the youngest in a international nation govt. In 1974, he joined British Leyland, and by 1977, at the age of 29, he had been appointed Managing Director of the British Leyland Parts Division, making him the youngest MD to handbook the firm’s most a hit industry. In 1987, John took on the characteristic of Group Chief Govt at Unipart and later assumed the build of Chairman and Chief Govt in 2012, sooner than turning into Govt Chairman in October 2022. John will retire from his day-to-day tasks and step down as a Board member on 31 August 2024, while persevering with to enhance the industry except the terminate of November 2024. He’ll live Unipart’s greatest particular particular person shareholder.
Since 1974, John has been the cornerstone of Unipart, reworking it into a proud British mission with a world footprint in 21 international locations, with over 12,000 colleagues, and providing an intensive portfolio of merchandise, services, and choices. Beneath his management, Unipart reported a £1 billion turnover in 2023, alongside a first-rate amplify in profitability, positioning the firm for continued say. This year, Unipart celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of its mark – a milestone John has been integral in achieving.
John’s unwavering dedication to excellence and innovation is exemplified by “The Unipart Blueprint”, a testament to his visionary come. At some stage in the years, he has introduced a diversified mix of vision, abilities, management, and ardour to the industry.
“Working at Unipart has been one of the necessary finest honours of my existence,” said John. “The relationships I’ve constructed, the challenges we’ve overcome, and the milestones we’ve executed collectively will repeatedly withhold a diversified disclose in my coronary heart. I’m deeply grateful to my colleagues, industry companions, and all our stakeholders for his or her unwavering enhance for the length of my gallop. As we celebrate our fiftieth anniversary, I truly feel that, if I’m to create essentially the most of seeing my grandchildren develop up and forge lasting bonds with them, the window to attain so is now.”
Reflecting on his gallop, John remarked, “Over the past 50 years, I maintain had the privilege of working with unprecedented contributors whose loyalty and dedication were instrumental in reworking Unipart from its early days as the parts division of British Leyland. Collectively, we defied seemingly insurmountable odds. After I joined, the parts industry was in terminal decline, and it was certain that virtually all effective radical innovation might right our future. We constructed a user mark, created an ‘all makes’ industry, repeatedly innovated to handbook the industry, after which in 1987 executed the in the case of impossible – main a management and employee buyout of a parts industry from a automotive firm – one thing that had never been performed anywhere on the planet sooner than.
“After I began my occupation, British Leyland was the sector’s fifth-greatest automotive producer. This day, Unipart stands as the sole real final just firm from that generation. I steal enormous satisfaction in what we maintain executed collectively. The loyalty, dedication, and tireless efforts of our folks maintain sustained this firm for decades, and none of us might be right here with out them.
“At the time of our buyout, the firm faced a single level of failure, but this day, we operate at some level of a couple of sectors, with diverse customers, serving a couple of applied sciences, in a couple of geographies. We withhold valued partnerships with blue-chip automotive, technology, and rail corporations while expanding into aerospace, motorsport, and industrial services. Unipart has remained a hit for the length of the years and is neatly-positioned for continued say.”
John’s tenure is marked by a tall sequence of achievements, including the appearance of the Unipart mark in the 1970s and Eighties, main the management and employee buyout from British Leyland, and setting up Britain’s first corporate university, the Unipart “U.” He was a pioneer of stakeholder management in the UK and played a key characteristic in the Tomorrow’s Firm inquiry, ensuing in a consult with from HRH Prince Philip to stare these solutions in observe.
John will possible be belief to be a singular leader among Chairmen and C-suite executives for his perception into digital applied sciences and generative A.I., coupled alongside with his ability to enlighten and leverage these ideas to inspire his colleagues. His visionary come and steadfast management haven’t most effective contributed to the say and success of Unipart but maintain moreover impressed limitless contributors alongside the plan.
Beyond his decent accomplishments at Unipart, John has made major contributions to the broader industry community. He has been an active member of the Confederation of British Commerce (CBI), a past President of the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT), and has participated in different executive working groups. He has moreover served on the Court of the Bank of England, and on the Boards of Constitution Worldwide plc, Midlands Vitality plc, Rolls-Royce plc, and Royal Mail Holdings plc. In 1994, John was awarded a CBE for his services to industry. He for the time being serves as an Govt Board Member of the SMMT and President of the Automotive Management Network.
As John embarks on this contemporary chapter, he looks forward to spending beyond regular time alongside with his family, taking on extra non-govt roles, and persevering with his enhance for alternative external organisations, as neatly as his mentoring commitments. The firm has moreover requested that he continue as the Chair of Unipart’s RBS Pension Trustee Board, a characteristic he has agreed to fulfil.
Dr Bryan Jackson, Senior Unprejudiced Director, shared that John first urged him of his plan to retire in Also can fair. Since then, the firm has been working to make certain there’ll possible be a snug transition over six months to November. A chief alternate will happen on 1 September, with the appearance of a brand contemporary build of Non-Govt Chair, that will possible be the field of a separate announcement.
Bryan Jackson said, “In all honesty, it could perhaps be incredibly subtle to interchange John’s characteristic as Govt Chairman. Simply set, how attain you apply someone who has devoted a lifetime to growing an iconic British firm with its unfamiliar spirit?
“On behalf of the Board, our colleagues, customers, and the limitless others who maintain benefitted from being piece of Unipart, words can not fully roar our gratitude for every part John has performed to produce Unipart into the solid, diversified organisation it is this day. His dedication to excellence, innovation, and continuous enchancment leaves us with a industry that positively impacts its folks, customers, shareholders, and stakeholders. I look forward to celebrating John’s legacy and achievements and guaranteeing we continue to produce on Unipart’s strengths as we develop in the end.”
