John Coburn BA (Hons)
A dedicated and passionate professional in automotive retailing, John’s extensive knowledge of this sector has been built through actual working knowledge of each level of dealership operations and processes, as well as a number of key strategic positions within dealer group corporate functions.
John’s straight forward and common sense approach to managing people and a dedication to total customer satisfaction have been the hallmarks of a successful career from a single point dealership through to one of the world’s largest motor retail organisations.
John has intimate working knowledge of the sales floor, business, sales and general management. He was involved in the set up and implementation of Europe’s first dealer dedicated training academy and project managed a number of innovative schemes in the automotive retail industry through a fourteen year career.
Related Experience / Key Achievements
Wood Automotive Group, Calgary, AB
- Opened and established Business Development and Customer Care Centre
- Integrated central BDC with Sales and Service functions
- Centralized Internet Sales Function, and managed it through infancy
- Implemented web functions and phone system integrations
- Wrote and facilitated sales induction courses
Pendragon plc (Europe)
- Performed a systems integrations role after the purchase of Reg Vardy plc
Reg Vardy plc (Europe)
- As Training Manager, established the Reg Vardy training academy.
- Authored, developed and delivered classroom and dealership based courses to all levels of the organisation.
- Consulted in the writing of a new purpose built sales system.
- Consulted with new acquisitions, integrating them into company processes.
- Consulted in special projects including prestige franchises and underperforming dealerships.
- Developed real time reporting mechanisms for 100+ dealerships, interpreted and executed on the outcomes.
Trust Motors plc (Europe)
- Established a marketing department and BDC, integrating the function into the dealer group.
- Undertook sales, marketing and management roles within the group.