Martin Nichols

Experience

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  Perkins Engines

  Aug 1984 - Dec 1986

  Graduate Trainee / Promotions Executive

  After spending a training year in several different functions to broaden my understanding of the business, I joined the marketing department as support to the Promotions Manager.

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  IVECO

  Apr 1987 - Mar 1994

  Key responsibilities:• Initiating and implementing clear, accurate and competitive pricing strategies.Achievements include:• Implemented a mainframe based pricing system that streamlined vehicle invoicing. Key responsibilities:• Negotiation with product development teams, national sales companies and advertising agencies.Achievements include:• Successful launch of the EuroCargo range in Northern European markets. Key responsibilities:• Liaison with Ford European national sales companies in marketing the Ford truck range.Achievements include:• Developing a new range of marketing materials to support Ford European sales activities.

  • Pricing Manager

    Feb 1991 - Mar 1994

  • Assistant Product Manager

    Feb 1989 - Feb 1991

  • Export Promotions Co-ordinator

    Apr 1987 - Feb 1989
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  Ludvigsen Associates

  Apr 1994 - Mar 1995

  Senior Associate

  Key responsibilities:• Secure new business and explore new research areas.Achievements include:• Successfully expanded Ludvigsen’s business into the commercial vehicle industry.

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  Honda Motor Europe

  Apr 1995 - Mar 1998

  Dealer Development & Electronic Media Manager

  Key responsibilities:• Provide direction to national sales companies in dealer franchise planning, contract negotiation and programme development.• Explore alternative methods of communicating directly with customers and research additional vehicle sales channels.Achievements include:• Developed and implemented pan European dealer standards, corporate identity and used car programmes.• Initiated, assembled and project managed a multinational team that successfully delivered the construction, launch and maintenance of www.honda.co.uk and www.honda.de, Honda’s first official European websites. Show less

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  Nissan Motor GB

  Sept 1998 - Aug 2001

  Approved Used Car Programme Manager

  Key responsibilities:• Maximise the ability of 110 Approved Programme participating dealers to profitably re-market used cars through a dedicated field team of five reports, each of whom had an area of geographic responsibility.• Provide marketing and strategic direction, manage budget and maintain dealer/manufacturer focus on used vehicles.Achievements include:• Initiated and project managed a warranty management system tailored to individual dealer operational performance.• Devised and successfully launched an initiative to supply the dealer network with regularly updated DVLA market transaction and parc statistics to support targeted local marketing and used vehicle stock profiling. Show less

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  Renault Retail Group

  Sept 2001 - Apr 2004

  Key responsibilities:• Propose and implement strategic actions and programmes to improve sales and aftersales performance.• Liaise and negotiate with Renault UK on commercial objectives, programmes and tactical initiatives in sales and aftersales.Achievements include:• Devised, project managed and launched a new sales prospect management system.• Implemented a successful used car internet project in co-operation with Eurotax Glass’s and Autotrader. Key responsibilities:• Sales manage the dealer network and provide recruitment, training, coaching and retail marketing support.• Define, launch and maintain sales and aftersales dealer standards.Achievements include:• The dealers in my region always achieved the highest volume performance in the Renault UK network.• Successfully implemented ‘Best Practice’ training and coaching development initiatives with dealer management and staff.

  • Commercial Operations Manager

    Sept 2003 - Apr 2004

  • Brand Development Manager - Premier Range

    Sept 2001 - Sept 2003
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  General Motors Europe

  Sept 2004 - Jan 2006

  Manager - Used Car Aftersales Marketing

  Key responsibilities:• Maximise parts and accessories revenue derived from used vehicles for the Opel/Vauxhall dealer network and GM’s national sales companies across Europe.• Key aftersales stakeholder in the GM multibrand used car and warranty programme.Achievements include:• Developed and successfully launched a Used Vehicle Accessory Pack Programme in the Dutch and Belgian markets.• Implemented a project to ‘re-capture and retain’ purchasers of used vehicles in the ‘private-to-private’ online market. Show less

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  Career Break

  Jan 2006 - Dec 2006

  None

  Following the death of my last surviving parent, I took a break to organise their affairs, sell the family home and build a property investment portfolio.

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  Motability Operations

  Jan 2007 - Aug 2007

  Senior Automotive Analyst

  Key responsibilities:• Set accurate future residual values for all new vehicles entering the UK passenger car market.• Maintain and develop Motability’s view of how changes in the automotive industry will affect future used car residual values.Achievements include:• Redefined Motability’s policy on future fuels and environmental issues.• Devised and successfully launched a new method of setting future residual values for wheelchair accessible vehicles.

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  Belvoir Lettings

  Mar 2008 - May 2011

  Franchisee and Business Owner

  Key responsibilities:• Build, establish and consolidate a new business with full accountability for all operational and financial activities.Achievements include:• Achieved year on year volume and turnover growth in a highly competitive property market.

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  Henry Adams Lettings

  May 2011 - Mar 2012

  Negotiator

  Key responsibilities:• Secure new properties to let and maximise occupancy according to monthly objectives.Achievements include:• Smashed all monthly records on the way to achieving annual objective for the first time since 2009.

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  Whitebeam

  Mar 2012 - Dec 2012

  Business Development Manager

  Key responsibilities:• Research new markets, prospect for new contacts, build relationships and increase sales to OEMs.Achievements include:• Created a substantial new database of decision maker contacts and became supplier to a global cooking oven manufacturer.

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  Audatex UK

  Dec 2012 - Jun 2013

  Product/Data Developer (Contract)

  Key responsibilities:• Research vehicle information in line with data development requests.• Preparation and translation of German graphic files.• Verification of graphic file accuracy and functionality before market implementation.Achievements include:• Become department expert on recently upgraded web-based data development process.• Improved department performance against new and update model launch objectives.• Specialist on new model launch and market activity in Australia, UAE and Singapore markets. Show less

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  Stericycle Expert Solutions EMEAA

  Sept 2013 - Jan 2015

  Vauxhall Account Director

  Key responsibilities:• Management of the 'Retain' aftersales customer retention programme on behalf of Vauxhall.• Ensure continued client/dealer satisfaction, drive recruitment of additional Retailers and resolve all data/technical issues.Achievements include:• Building a strong relationship with the client that led to a 3 year contract extension.• Implemented an innovative series of programme enhancements that increased Retailer utilization and revenue.

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  IHS Markit

  Feb 2015 - Dec 2015

  PolkConnect Programme Manager

  Key responsibilities:• Management of a team of six consultants based across the UK working with the dealer networks of nine different vehicle manufacturers to improve their aftersales performance and customer retention.• Maintaining the level of participation and recruitment of additional dealers through demonstration of product capability and sharing ‘Best Practice’ CRM techniques.Achievements include:• Initiated and implemented programme enhancements that supported achievement of manufacturer parts and labour sales objectives. • Managed a team that achieved 120% of their annual performance objectives in 2015. Show less

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  Groupe PSA

  Apr 2016 - Dec 2018

  Pro2Ace Programme Implementation Manager

  Key responsibilities:• Implementing the PSA global Pro2Ace programme designed to optimise dealer aftersales process, customer satisfaction and profitability in the UK.• Working closely with dealer management to support the business change process and delivering structured aftersales team coaching which would lead to performance improvement and PSA accreditation. Achievements include:• Implementation of the programme resulted in an average dealer uplift of 5% in customer satisfaction index performance and 8% in retail parts purchase value.• Achieving accreditation and embedding 'Best Practice' process improvement actions at 67 Peugeot and Citroën dealers across the UK. Show less

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  Ford Motor Company

  May 2019 - now

  Key Responsibilities:• The Passenger Vehicle aftersales performance of 33 dealers in the Thames Valley, South West England and South Wales areas.• Oversee and guide actions to ensure achievement of the zone’s customer viewpoint objective.• Provide an integrated and complementary approach to developing service workshops with the aim of delivering growth in genuine Ford parts sales.• Ensure dealer engagement in Ford video e-check, digital service records, CRM programmes, mobile servicing, accessory & loyalty programmes, service activated roadside assistance and many other programmes. Show less

  • Commercial Vehicle Business Manager

    Jul 2022 - now

  • Regional Business Manager

    May 2019 - Jul 2022