President – Tim Abbott
Tim first joined BMW (GB) in 1986 and held several positions responsible for BMW sales throughout the dealer network, including Regional Sales Manager for central London, responsible for 18 dealers within the M25 area.
In 1996 his career took him into the retail sector with Audi, establishing a successful group of five dealerships in the south-east of England which he sold in 2004 to United Auto Group (UAG). He remained with the Sytner Group for a further two years as a Divisional Managing Director.
Tim rejoined BMW Group (UK) in 2006 as Sales Director responsible for the entire dealer network within the UK and Southern Ireland and sales activities for both BMW and MINI. After two years Tim Abbott was appointed Managing Director of BMW Group (UK) and took up his new position on 1 February 2009. Tim became SMMT President in January 2013.
Deputy President – Nigel Stein
Nigel Stein is Chief Executive of GKN plc. GKN plc is a global engineering business serving the automotive, aerospace and land systems markets. It has operations in more than 35 countries and around 44,000 employees. It had sales of £6.1 billion in the year ended 31 December 2011. GKN plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: GKN).
Prior to becoming Chief Executive Nigel ran GKN Driveline, the Group’s automotive business which accounted for just under half the Group sales. As the world’s leading manufacturer of driveline products, it supplies almost all the major passenger car manufacturers around the world.
He joined GKN in 1994 holding a number of finance, commercial and general management roles within the group including Group Finance Director. Prior to joining GKN he worked with other UK engineering companies: Laird Group, Hestair and Hawker Siddeley. He is a former Non-Executive Director of Wolseley plc. Nigel served as SMMT President from 2010-12
Vice Presidents
There are six SMMT Vice Presidents:
Gareth Jones, ebm-papst Automotive & Drives UK Ltd
John Neill CBE, Unipart Group
Mark Ovenden, Ford of Britain
Bill Parfitt CBE, General Motors UK
Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover
Robin Woolcock, VW Group
President – Tim Abbott
In 1996 his career took him into the retail sector with Audi, establishing a successful group of five dealerships in the south-east of England which he sold in 2004 to United Auto Group (UAG). He remained with the Sytner Group for a further two years as a Divisional Managing Director.
Tim rejoined BMW Group (UK) in 2006 as Sales Director responsible for the entire dealer network within the UK and Southern Ireland and sales activities for both BMW and MINI. After two years Tim Abbott was appointed Managing Director of BMW Group (UK) and took up his new position on 1 February 2009. Tim became SMMT President in January 2013.
Deputy President – Nigel Stein
Nigel Stein is Chief Executive of GKN plc. GKN plc is a global engineering business serving the automotive, aerospace and land systems markets. It has operations in more than 35 countries and around 44,000 employees. It had sales of £6.1 billion in the year ended 31 December 2011. GKN plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: GKN).
Prior to becoming Chief Executive Nigel ran GKN Driveline, the Group’s automotive business which accounted for just under half the Group sales. As the world’s leading manufacturer of driveline products, it supplies almost all the major passenger car manufacturers around the world.
He joined GKN in 1994 holding a number of finance, commercial and general management roles within the group including Group Finance Director. Prior to joining GKN he worked with other UK engineering companies: Laird Group, Hestair and Hawker Siddeley. He is a former Non-Executive Director of Wolseley plc. Nigel served as SMMT President from 2010-12
Vice Presidents
There are six SMMT Vice Presidents:
Gareth Jones, ebm-papst Automotive & Drives UK Ltd
John Neill CBE, Unipart Group
Mark Ovenden, Ford of Britain
Bill Parfitt CBE, General Motors UK
Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover
Robin Woolcock, VW Group