A turning point for TrustFord that has seen an acceleration in fleet volume, a restructured portfolio and a focus on employee culture will be the legacy of this year’s AM Hall of Fame inductee, Stuart Foulds.
Foulds joined the esteemed company in the AM Hall of Fame after ending his car retail career of nearly five years at Ford of Britain owned by the franchised car retail group.
Formerly the managing director of the Evans Halshaw Ford Group and the longest -serving member of the Ford Dealer Council, Foulds headed TrustFord in July 2017 as chief executive and chairman of the AM100 dealer group.
What followed was a turning point for the motor retailer.
The expansion of its Long Marston logistic center, near Stratford-on-Avon, and the acquisition and growth of an extensive PDI center in Sherburn have accelerated the ability to deliver volumes.
Foulds ’tenure also saw the delivery of the TrustFordNOW initiative to improve immediate sales, allowing car buyers to drive a vehicle away in as little as an hour.
The brand is extended to ServiceNOW, which guarantees a service within 60 minutes.
PartsPlus’s share trading centers and QuickLane’s rapid operations were launched across the UK and, in 2020, TrustFord made changes as part of a move to consolidate the brand’s London dealerships.
The £ 30m sale of its 4.44-acre Alperton dealership saw its sale operations relocated to Edgware Road ahead of the January 2020 opening of a new 20,000 square foot aftersales center in Alperton.
Along with a series of strategic changes made under Foulds ’leadership, TrustFord is also committed to its people, leading to issues such as diversity and inclusion.
And Foulds was recognized as a key supporter of the Ben automotive charity, specifically at the annual Break Out for Ben charity challenge.
An AM Awards judge said: “It’s great to know what Stuart Foulds has accomplished in his career. There really is a legacy there. ”
Previous inductees: 2021 Professor Richard Parry-Jones CBE (posthumous); 2020 Graham Day, CEM Day; 2019 Tony Whitehorn, Hyundai; 2018 Jack Tordoff MBE, JCT600; 2017 Michael Smyth, Swansway Group; 2016 Mark Squires, Benfield Motor Group/NFDA; 2015 Gerard Nieuwenhuys, Sytner.