8:02 pm, March 3, 2011
VERTU Motors’ chief executive Robert Forrester has described the firm’s performance so far as ‘acceptable’.
Commenting on Vertu’s trading performance update published Tuesday, Forrester told Car Dealer: ‘To have upgraded our business by improving our profit numbers and increasing our sales outlets, I would describe our performance as acceptable.’
Forrester was speaking from the firm’s Nottingham-based Citroen dealership which, during February, relocated to leased premises. Citroen is also a brand that is performing strongly at the moment – just one of a number of brands that are experiencing strong sales in Vertu’s portfolio.
‘We’ve also got 24 Ford outlets, and the new Focus is big car for us. Having good product coming out of Ford Motor Company is important to us for the next 12 months.
‘But we could do more,’ said Forrester. ‘We have to do two things over the next year: improve the businesses we’ve got, and buy more businesses.
‘The crucial thing is making sure the management is right, they’re motivated, they work closely with the manufacturer, and understand the importance of aftersales and the importance of customer service.’
