@johnmcilroy
OUR PICK OF HOME-GROWN TALENT
THE UK’S car-manufacturing industry is in a major state of flux, with concerns over the effects of Brexit on the supply chain, and horse-trading over battery gigafactories. But the country’s management, engineering and design skills are still clearly highly regarded within the global car industry – and that’s reflected in our annual rundown of the UK’s top 50 influences over the cars we buy and drive.
The revised order includes a chopped-and-changed top 10, new entries, and evidence that Chinese brands are turning to UK expertise. It’s also good to see two female UK execs within our top 10, although the higher echelons of the motor industry still badly need more diversity. The overall picture is positive, though, with lots of evidence that UK nous is still appreciated.
50 WAYNE BRUCE
Chief Communications and D&I Officer, Bentley Motors Ltd
A RETURN to the Brit List for Bentley comms chief Wayne Bruce, whose influence at the Crewe brand extends far beyond dealing with media. In a canny move, CEO and Brit List Hall of Famer Adrian Hallmark expanded Bruce’s role this April, to include Diversity and Inclusion.
The former McLaren exec has grasped the scope of the position, establishing one of the car industry’s oldest brands as a pioneer in wiping out discrimination and prejudices, establishing networks to discuss LGBTQ+ and BAME issues, and introducing a program of mentoring to help attract more females to the car industry.
49 CHRISTIAN HORNER
President & Chief Executive Officer, Red Bull Racing & Red Bull Technologies
FORMER racer Christian Horner has been enjoying plenty of success as the boss of Red Bull Racing, with Max Verstappen dominating the 2022 F1 season (and looking set to do the same this year).
But Horner’s place on the Brit List is earned through his ability to make a racing team and its technologies relevant beyond the Drive to Survive bubble; his deal-making skills have ensured Ford’s return to the grid in 2026, and collaboration with Red Bull is likely to have influence over several models that the general public will be able to buy and drive on the road, too.
48 ALAN JOHNSTON
Region Senior Vice President, Manufacturing & Supply Chain, Nissan
BRIT List regular Kevin Fitzpatrick signed off from Nissan after nearly four decades of service earlier this year. His replacement is Alan Johnston – proof that Nissan likes to promote experienced staff from within its ranks.
Johnston has held a string of senior positions since he joined Nissan more than 30 years ago, including spells at the Sunderland plant and in the wider European infrastructure. His knowledge of the intricacies of Nissan’s supply chain will be key as the wider industry continues to fight against choppy seas in the months ahead.
47 AVRIL PALMER-BAUNACK
Executive Chairman, Constellation Automotive Group
THIS is a modest slide down the rankings for Avril Palmer-Baunack, but the famously savvy Executive Chairman of car-sales group Constellation (behind brands like Cinch and We Buy Any Car) appears to be positioning the business well.
The Edinburgh-born executive oversaw a loss in 2022, but it was smaller than the previous year and revenues soared by over 140 per cent, to over £8billion. You can bet that she and her team will be working on cutting the outgoings further, to ensure that Constellation turns those numbers into net profits in 2023 and beyond.
46 MARK CAMERON
Global Managing Director, Freelander/Discovery, JLR
JAGUAR Land Rover made headlines in the spring when it rebranded itself as JLR and announced plans to focus on retail experiences based around its vehicle lines: Jaguar, Range Rover, Defender and Discovery.
The man at the wheel of the latter two brands is Mark Cameron, who started his career at Ford and had a spell at Mazda UK before he joined Jaguar Land
