1:48 pm, March 31, 2023
Group 1 Automotive has parted company with UK managing director Mark Bridgland.
Car Dealer can exclusively reveal that Bridgland left the business this week, with staff informed via an email bulletin yesterday.
The bulletin was leaked to Car Dealer and gives no indication as to why Bridgland, who was only appointed to the role last summer, has left the business.
A spokesperson for the US-based Group 1 told Car Dealer: ‘Mark Bridgland is no longer with Group 1 Automotive.
‘We would like to thank Mark for his contribution to Group 1 in the UK and wish him all the very best for the future.’
Car Dealer contacted Bridgland for comment, but did not receive a response.
However, in a post on LinkedIn late on Friday, Bridgland said: ‘After nine fantastic years at Group 1 Automotive, working with an absolutely incredible team, I have decided to take some extended time off to spend with my family, before starting on a new venture.
‘I would like to say a huge thank you to all of my colleagues and business partners for their support over the years – I couldn’t have done it without you!’
A source at Group 1 said the news had stunned staff.
‘There were a lot of shocked faces around when the news was announced,’ they said. ‘No one was expecting Mark to leave so soon after being appointed to the role.’
Bridgland was made UK managing director in July last year at the age of 39, having previously served as the group’s operations director.
Group 1 runs 55 dealerships and 75 franchises in the UK and last year was named the ninth-most profitable dealer group in the UK in the Car Dealer Top 100, with £36.1m of EBITDA profit for 2021.
It represents various VW Group brands, BMW and Mini, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Jaguar Land Rover, Toyota, Kia and Citroen in the UK.
Bridgland’s role saw him oversee the company’s ‘human resources, finance and other support functions in the UK’ as well as dealership operations.
He had worked for the company for a decade in various roles, including finance and insurance compliance, as well as operational and support functions.
Previously, he worked for Lookers.
Last year, Group 1 Automotive posted a global profit of £2.4bn ($3bn) on revenues of £13.1bn ($16.2bn) – an increase of 20.3 per cent and 21.5 per cent respectively over 2021’s results.
In the UK last year, it saw gross profit increase by nine per cent to £310m ($383m) while revenue was up six per cent to £2.3bn ($2.8bn).
Updated: March 31, 19:29, with Bridgland’s comment
