8 Questions to… Motorpoint stock and purchasing director Dean Walker

Motorpoint stock and purchasing director Dean Walker tells AM how new car production and inflation are adding pressure to his role at the used car supermarket PLC in the latest '8 Questions to...' Q&A.

What are the main responsibilities of your role?

I lead Motorpoint’s stock purchasing strategy and am responsible for the daily stock management of retail and trade vehicles across our 17 sites. I am also a member of the senior leadership team which reports to CEO Mark Carpenter. The team is accountable for the continued responsible growth and performance of the company, ensuring we provide unbeatable prices for the consumer and retain our position as the UK’s largest independent retailer of cars and vans now and in the future. One aspect I really enjoy is the chance to spend time with team members in preparation, sales, customer service and other crucial areas of the business that play such a huge part in our success. Their feedback is vital if we are to continue to evolve and grow. Recognising, nurturing and mentoring talent is incredibly important.

What are the most significant challenges ahead?

For the past two years, managing vehicle supply has been one of the biggest challenges in automotive. Supply and demand are seldom aligned, but with the current pressures around new car production and the huge wholesale price movements we have witnessed in the past 12 months, proactive stock management has become a much more demanding environment. Inflationary pressure from rising fuel prices along with general lower consumer confidence means we are even more focused on the effective buying and stock management processes.

How might these challenges be overcome?

The changes across the nearly new vehicle retail sector and for Motorpoint in the past two years is unprecedented both operationally and from a people perspective. Our people – we have more than 800 employees – are at the heart of everything we do, so it must start with them. Motorpoint has always done an unbelievable job of taking care of its employees, but the work done in the past 24 months has been remarkable. This is reflected in our status as Best Companies’ number one employer in the automotive sector for the past two years. Operationally, Motorpoint has always been forward thinking; people forget we have been selling nearly new cars and vans online for more than 20 years. We pride ourselves on being a true omnichannel business with the customer making the choice on how they wish to engage with and buy from us. Over the past two years we have recruited some experts in their respective fields such as digital marketing and change and transformation, but they are new to the motor retail sector. We recognise that, by combining new skill sets with the experience of our long service employees, who epitomise the values of a ‘founder mentality’, positions us very well to pursue our progressive growth strategy.

What attracted you to this area of expertise?

I’ve always worked in the motor trade. Starting in retail in the late 1990s then moving into wholesale in the early 2000s. I’d watched Motorpoint grow quickly during that time, there was just something different about how it operated – very entrepreneurial and agile. When the opportunity arose to join 14 years ago, I jumped at the chance. I’ve always loved working here and I didn’t anticipate I would one day be a part of the senior leadership team, but the business has invested in me, and I am proud of the journey I have been on.

What’s the most important thing you’ve learned?

Never stop learning. I’ve been fortunate enough to work alongside some great leaders, mentors and coaches over the past 25 years and I’ve always tried to absorb what I can to better myself and become a more complete leader. Seeing the development in colleagues is extremely rewarding.

QUICK-FIRE QUESTIONS

What drives you?

Doing a job to the best of my ability and seeing the company I love succeed, while knowing I’ve played a part in that success by executing our strategy.

What’s your favourite app?

It would be between Instagram and LinkedIn.

How do you relax?

I’ve always thrived when working at a fast pace, even at home where my children keep me on my toes. In the past year I’ve had to work really hard to start ‘slowing down’ and I now practice meditation. A glass of red with my wife also does the trick.