5:40 pm, July 1, 2016
ANDREW Hooks has joined Carwow as chief operating officer (COO), previously director of motors at Gumtree.com, who will join the company in July.
Hooks brings with him more than seven years experience in building and scaling automotive marketplace businesses. At Carwow he will take responsibility for developing the dealer proposition.
Andrew joined eBay, owners of Gumtree, in 2009 to run the eBay Motors business in Europe. Since 2014 he has been responsible for developing the successful Gumtree Motors proposition.
Andrew said: ‘I’m really excited to be joining Carwow – it’s a great opportunity to help shape one of the most exciting and innovative businesses in the automotive retail sector anywhere in the world right now, and I was already impressed by the calibre of people already in the business.’
He added: ‘I wouldn’t have been interested in joining Carwow if the proposition was just ‘all about price’. Consumers value transparency, service and convenience, and it’s those qualities that differentiate Carwow’s successful dealers, as evidenced by the fact that just 25 per cent of users choose the cheapest offer they receive.
‘The business has shown a fantastic trajectory over the past three years, and I look forward to using my experience to usher in the next phase of growth. From my time at eBay and Gumtree I’m acutely aware of the need to balance the needs of both sides of the marketplace – buyers and sellers – and to create “wins” for all parties. At this stage, it’s imperative that the team and I help every dealer in the country understand the opportunity that carwow presents for their business.’
James Hind, CEO of carwow, commented: ‘I am delighted that Andrew is joining the team. He brings with him a huge amount of experience, both in the automotive industry and and running large teams. Andrew’s arrival stands us in great stead to continue our growth and expand the features we offer our users and partner dealers.’
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