Winners 2023

Sales 2023

MILLS HAS MADE impressive progress through the dealership ranks, starting at Mini Leeds, where she joined in 2013 as a salesperson. She jumped four steps during the course of her time there before moving to the top position as head of businessin 2019. Two years later, she was picked to take over the underperforming Stratstone Mini dealership in nearby Harrogate. She rebuilt the team, including boosting female representation to 32%, and now it’s the best- performing Mini dealership within the Pendragon group. She hit 171% of her financial plan, boosting new car sales by 140% and used cars by 50%. Mills is heading on maternity leave but says she intends to return and continue “smashing it in Harrogate”, according to her nomination.

Sales 2023 nominees

Lauren Barnes, Business manager, Evans Halshaw, Nissan, Pendragon

BARNES JOINED THE Pendragon group as an apprentice and has since been promoted twice to her current role as business manager at this Nissan dealership. She has impressed during her time there, either meeting or exceeding every Nissan objective set during the 19 months she has been in the role. Customer scores are up to 100% and she is regularly voted Team Member of the Month by peers. “Lauren works incredibly hard to personally achieve while harnessing the potential in others,” wrote Claire Bell, head of diversity and inclusion at Pendragon, in her nomination.

Stefanie Bowden, Sales performance manager, Nissan

BOWDEN’S CURRENT RESPONSIBILITY is to oversee 18 Nissan franchised dealerships covering London, the Home Counties and Essex. The sales- focused role is a shift from her previous marketing position within Nissan but is consistent with her desire to gain wide experience within the company since joining on a Nissan graduate scheme in 2013. Her first taste of the business came working as a marketing assistant at Walkers Motor Group, run by her family.

Emma Glazier, Business manager, Lookers

GLAZIER IS ONE of only three female business managers working at dealerships within the Ford network of Lookers. She gained the position after excelling in her role as sales executive at Colchester Ford. “She regularly went above and beyond not only for customers but also for colleagues,” said Annalise Eldred, head of customer contact centres at Lookers, in her nomination. Glazier started at Lookers 10 years ago in sales and won her most recent promotion 18 months ago.

Sue Gaut, General manager, Stellantis

GAUT HAS LONG been rising within the Stellantis &You dealer group, formerly Robins & Day, and now runs a dual-brand dealership in Coventry after her latest promotion. Gaut recently celebrated her 25th anniversary at the group, where she started off as a business manager administrator. She proved her skills at her previous role heading Citroën Redditch, which went on to sell the highest number of new retail Citroëns in the network despite being one of the smallest sites. At the Stellantis Retailer Excellence Awards last year, Gaut won Most Improved Dealer and New Car Dealer of the Year.

Lucinda Needham, Branch manager, LKQ Euro Car Parts

NEEDHAM HAS WORKED her way up from sales advisor in 2013 to become brand manager at the company’s Portsmouth outlet. This is her second branch manager position after impressing at a smaller outlet. The promotion has paid off for the company after she made a profit of £352,000 in 2022, 56% over budget. She achieved this by growing sales 16% but also by cutting costs. “The secret was to focus on the customer and ensure that my whole team were as passionate as I was,” says Needham. She has worked to achieve an equal male-to-female staff ratio, “which has created a great atmosphere”.

Hema Rawoo, Local business development manager – JLR, Lookers

RAWOO HAS SIGNIFICANT experience in fleet and corporate sales, most recently within dealerships selling premium brands. Her first fleet sales job was with MG Rover in Muswell Hill, London, in 2001 and much of her experience has been gained during 12 years spent at Mercedes-Benz Hertfordshire. She joined Lookers JLR in London in 2022. “Hema has so many large company connections. Her vehicle sales are always very profitable with a lot of volume orders,” wrote group local business development manager Shelley Hood in her nomination.

Beth Thompson, Commercial vehicle manager, Evans Halshaw, Ford, Pendragon

THOMPSON JOINED PENDRAGON dealer group Evans Halshaw as an apprentice in 2015 aged just 17 and has quickly risen within the male-dominated commercial sales side to become senior sales executive in 2019 and then commercial vehicle manager at Ford Preston’s Transit Centre in 2022, after returning from maternity leave. On return, she more than doubled orders and increased gross profit per unit by 130% compared with the group average.