OXFORD, England ,
Aug. 16,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Unipart is pleased to announce
the appointment of Dr Bryan Jackson
CBE to the role of Non-Executive Chair from 1st September
2024. This follows the announcement on 14th August 2024 that Unipart's Founder and
Executive Chairman, Dr John M. Neill
CBE, will retire from his position effective 31st August and
will continue to support the business until the end of
November.
Bryan has a long association with Unipart, commencing in 2005
with his appointment as Deputy Chairman of the Unipart
Manufacturing Group. He joined the Board as an independent
Non-Executive Director in April 2013
and was appointed Senior Independent Director in November 2022.
Bryan built an extensive career in automotive and manufacturing,
beginning his career with the Ford Motor Company where he spent 23
years before joining Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Limited in
1990. He has worked across many disciplines, holding senior
positions and managing several plants in the UK and Europe covering the full range of vehicle
manufacturing. He retired as Managing Director in 2004 and was an
advisor to Toyota in Europe until
2009.
Bryan has significant Board-level experience gained across a
variety of industries. Previous Board roles include being
Chairman of Sharing in Growth UK Limited, Wesleyan Assurance
Society, the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the
East Midlands Development Agency (a government appointment) and the
East Midlands Regional Council of the Confederation of British
Industry. He is currently Non-Executive Chairman of John Smedley
Limited.
He was awarded an honorary doctorate in business administration
from Nottingham Trent University in
recognition of his contribution as an industrialist and champion of
economic growth. Bryan is a Fellow of the Manufacturing Technology
Centre. He also attended executive development programmes at INSEAD
Business School, Fontainebleau and Wharton Business School,
University of Pennsylvania.
In 2000, Bryan was awarded an OBE for services to the motor
manufacturing industry and in 2012, he was awarded a CBE for
services to economic development and manufacturing.
John Neill, Unipart Executive Chairman said:
"Unipart is an iconic British company, and its next Chair
required someone who not only understands the culture that has been
meticulously crafted over the past 50 years, but someone whose
personal values and integrity are aligned with
Unipart.
"I have had the privilege of knowing and working closely with
Bryan for many decades, during which he has held several
non-executive roles within the Unipart Group and added immense
value through his expertise and leadership. My priority was to
ensure that the Board approved a leader whom all our stakeholders
can trust - someone who will consistently prioritise the well-being
of Unipart, its people, and its customers above any personal
interests.
"I am confident that Bryan, who has exemplified this ethos in
the past and was therefore an unrivalled candidate based on his
extensive experience and commitment to Unipart, will continue to do
so in the future. I wish Bryan, the Board and all our
colleagues and leaders the very best for Unipart's continued
success."
Bryan Jackson, Senior Independent
Non-Executive Director said:
"I am extremely proud to be appointed Chair of Unipart. How
do you replace an iconic leader and the creator of this unique,
highly-successful great British company? Luckily I have had the
privilege of working with John over many years and I am honoured to
take on this role and the responsibility of ensuring that the
culture he created will continue, and to build on Unipart's success
to date in the future.
"I believe Unipart has strong growth prospects thanks to the
solid, diversified business we have that has been built over the
past 50 years of tireless commitment and dedication. I am
looking forward to working with our people, customers, shareholders
and stakeholders on our journey ahead.
"I would like to thank John again for everything he has done and
wish him all the best for his future. While it will be incredibly
difficult to follow in John's footsteps, I am fully committed to
working with the Board, leadership team and colleagues to
drive Unipart forward through its next stage of growth and
look forward to the many opportunities ahead."
Please access Bryan Jackson's
biography here.
For media enquiries or further information, please contact:
Alistair Drummond, Head of External
Communications
T: +44(0)7771 798835
E: alistair.drummond@unipart.com
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