A look at GSF Car Parts’ overhauled leadership team
GSF Car Parts has assembled a new leadership team, comprising, what the national motor factor describes, as the best current and emerging talent in the aftermarket, as part of its plans to grow the business and directly challenge the “dominant players” in the market.
The news follows the announcement that the business will add 20 new branches to its 180-plus network over the coming 12 months, with up to 20 further locations to follow from 2025.
The business was acquired by private equity firm, Epiris, and the Ahluwalia family office in November 2023, with Steve Horne appointed as CEO and Sukhpal Ahluwalia as executive chair.
The company has now completed a period of aggressive talent acquisition to establish its new leadership team tasked with taking on this ambitious strategy:
Martin Gray, Chief Talent Officer. Martin is a highly experienced recruiter who was instrumental in the rapid growth of Phones4u and Euro Car Parts. His focus at GSF is strengthening and accelerating the company’s recruitment.
Chris Barella, Digital Director. His expertise in website optimisation, design and marketing is “second-to-none” in the automotive aftermarket, having spent 21 years at Euro Car Parts growing its ecommerce from zero to £250m. His focus will be helping to refine GSF’s customers’ digital journey and accelerate online sales growth.
Alistair Preston, Chief Customer Officer. He co-founded, scaled and exited WhoCanFixMyCar.com. Alistair’s role focuses on developing and maintaining customer relationships and helping enhance GSF’s market position, as it embarks on a new period of growth and investment.
David Bevan, Corporate Affairs Director. David ran an independent motor factor chain in the West Midlands before occupying director-level roles across marketing, sales and national accounts at Partco and Unipart Automotive, as well as director of strategy at Euro Car Parts. David is a passionate believer in the industry and helped create UK AFCAAR.
Lee Forty, National Accounts and Garage Equipment Director. He occupied key leadership positions in workshop solutions, garage concepts and commercial directorship at both Euro Car Parts and Integrated Supply Network. His focus will be key account development and acquisition, as well as the growth of GSF’s workshop-focused garage equipment arm.
The above join GSF’s existing leadership team of Chief Financial Officer, Sally Dowling, Chief Commercial Officer, Paula Huesca de Crean, Chief Strategy Officer, Sukhbir Kapoor, HR Director, Jo Warren, IT Director, Shaun Devey and Ecommerce Director, Farhan Hussain. Bill Stimson and Adam White also join the team as head of chairman’s office and head of CEO’s office respectively.
Sukhpal said: “I am delighted to be working alongside such an extraordinary leadership team. We have some of the aftermarket’s biggest juggernauts, all of whom have a proven track record for success, innovation and rapid growth, which are three objectives firmly on the agenda for GSF.
“Our leadership team have hit the ground running, and I am confident that, together, this team will lead our people across the UK and Ireland to unprecedented levels of success.
“We can only achieve this by offering the best customer experience in the industry, and that’s exactly what we’re committed to doing. I know the aftermarket inside out, and the plans we have to invest, scale and develop the service we offer to customers are going to make GSF the partner of choice for garages, suppliers and the public.”
Look out for part two of this article!
