LSH Auto UK has appointed LSH Australia common supervisor Vaughan Blackman as its new managing director in preparation for Mercedes-Benz’s introduction of company mannequin automobile retail in 2023.
In an announcement issued to AM this morning (December 20) Ruediger Schrage, the Hong Kong-owned group’s head of regional administration, revealed that exiting managing director Martyn Webb had “determined to pursue different alternatives exterior of LSH Auto and can go away the enterprise”.
Schrage stated: “Vaughan Blackman, Normal Supervisor of LSH Australia will take over from Martyn.
“Vaughan brings in depth expertise from inside the automotive business and efficiently carried out the Company mannequin with LSH Australia in 2021.”
Schrage added: “We’re extremely appreciative of Martyn’s assist and want to thank him for his dedication and need him good luck together with his future endeavours.”
Webb had held automobile retail positions at Holden Group, Sytner Group and Mercedes-Benz Retail Group earlier than turning into a part of the LSH Auto UK operation when it entered the UK in 2016.
He was made managing director in 2018 and oversaw the creation of the group’s sprawling Stockport dealership site, the place he was interviewed for an AM dealer profile feature in 2019.
His sudden departure from the group comes months forward of sweeping modifications inside Mercedes-Benz’s automobile retail community.
AM100 automobile retailer LSH Auto UK at the moment operates six Mercedes franchised websites, three Mercedes-Benz Vans places and three sensible dealerships throughout the midlands.
It’s 12 months since Mercedes-Benz reached an agency model agreement with its European retailers which is able to result in the introduction of an company mannequin retail construction within the UK from 2023.
Alongside the plan for the brand new distribution mannequin, the German premium model has revealed a plan to axe up to 20% of its German franchised dealerships and 10% of its global network by 2025.
Included in strategic bulletins made in a Capital Markets Day announcement earlier this yr was information that it goals to transact 80% of European automobile gross sales by way of an company mannequin and 25% on-line inside three years.
Again in August Australian broadcaster ABC reported that 38 of 55 Mercedes-Benz dealerships within the nation had united to battle the transfer to an company mannequin.
The group are demanding 650m Australian {dollars} (£373m) within the take a look at case during which sellers allege they had been compelled to signal new company mannequin offers that will dramatically cut back their earnings and wipe out years of goodwill with clients.
