BRITAIN’S AUTOMOTIVE MOVERS &SHAKERS
@johnmcilroy
BEST OF BRITISH ISSUE
NEW challenges, such as the war in Ukraine, have joined a disappointingly persistent semiconductor crisis in keeping the car industry on its toes over the past 12 months. But our annual rundown of the UK’s top 50 executives in the car business shows British experience and creativity are possibly more valued than ever.
With many of the biggest groups restructuring, to focus their resources and cash on development in key areas such as electrification and more digital customer experiences, it seems UK nous is trusted to deliver results at the highest levels.
There are some signs, meanwhile, that these shifts towards technology and more immersive customer journeys might help Brit-born female execs to come up through the ranks. But it remains frustratingly early days, and there is still no clear evidence that any progress made by black and Asian executives in the UK industry is carrying them through to the global stage.
BRIT LIST JUDGING PANEL
Steve Fowler
Editor-in-chief of Auto Express and Carbuyer, and regular commentator on the BBC
Ray Massey
Award-winning Daily Mail motoring editor and industry commentator
John McIlroy
Auto Express deputy editor, and an auto journalist for more than 25 years
Chris Donkin
Respected automotive headhunter, now with the Savannah Group
Peter Campbell
Global car industry specialist for the Financial Times
Karren Parry
PR specialist with spells at the likes of JLR, Honda, SEAT, Volvo and the SMMT
2021 POSITION #49
50 JON WILLIAMS
General manager, Ford Blue
FORD recently restructured its global operations, allowing one team, Model e, to focus on development of the crucial new generation of electric cars – and keeping another, Ford Blue, to maintain the sales and profitability of combustion-engined models until the company’s zero-emissions range really kicks in.
Jon Williams landed the role of general manager in the latter division, bringing with him not only experience at Ford itself – his most recent position prior to the switch was vice-president for sales in Europe – but also a spell running Toyota’s UK operation.
NEW ENTRY
49 JAQUELINE SMITH-DUBENDORFER
Global vice-president, Smart Mobility & Digital Sales, Porsche AG
PORSCHE is in rude health at the moment, and British woman Jacqueline Smith-Dubendorfer is at the heart of the company’s future growth.
The former Adidas exec, who has a degree in sports science, joined the Stuttgart brand last autumn as head of digital sales. Her goal is a clear one: to make sure that Porsche’s experience and products are easily accessible online by all customers, any time and anywhere.
NEW ENTRY
48 SEAN GREEN
Senior vice-president, Sales and Marketing, BMW Brilliance Automotive
SEAN Green has spent more than three decades with BMW, but his latest gig is surely the most important he’s ever held with the firm.
The sales and marketing chief at BMW Brilliance will be taking on more responsibility after the German brand bought a controlling share in the Chinese joint venture earlier this year. The division produced 700,000 vehicles in 2021, but that’s expected to expand rapidly by 2025.
2021 POSITION #50
47 MARK TENNANT
Commercial director, Ineos Automotive
INEOS has now managed to get its Grenadier SUV on sale, in both conventional and commercial vehicle forms. It’s a win for founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe, but also for the
