Stuart Mustoe, the AM Awards Business Leader of the Year 2024

The business which our winner of the 2024 Business Leader of the Year award heads up is well reputed for its investment in retail innovation, in its people and in its facilities.

It has a workplace culture and purpose that many envy. And that positive, welcoming culture is led from the very top.

Stuart Mustoe has TrustFord running through his veins. He has worked his way up through the organisation since graduating from university with a business degree in 1997 and joining the then Ford Retail Group.

Progression through the business led to him joining the board just more than a decade ago, as finance director, and began to help his strategic colleagues to shape the people-focused culture and sales innovations the business is known for today.

In 2022 he became the figurehead for the business, in the chief executive role, stepping into the large boots left by straight-talking predecessor Stuart Foulds.

As chief executive Mustoe has appointed experienced sales and aftersales experts to the board to help drive its strategy as it expands its scale and adapts to want-it-now customers and electrification.

He embraces the challenges of ensuring the business meets the expectations of its key stakeholder, Ford, embracing the changes required to remain a modern motor retailer, while ensuring the business delivers a decent return, expands into new territories and continues to prove to customers that it cares.

Sustainability has also come into focus, with the dealer group pledging to be carbon-neutral by 2035.

And Mustoe and his HR director Sharon Ashcroft continue to put equity, diversity and inclusion high on the agenda at this dealer group, with commendable results that demonstrate a content workforce.

This citation was also published in the AM Awards special report - click here to read it and find out about all this year's winners.

Employee churn has fallen, sickness levels are down, historic inequalities including women’s pay are being addressed – its gender pay gap is now down to just 3%. The group’s achievements led to it being invited to share its insights at its franchise’s annual general meeting and to the dealer council.

The dealer group is no stranger to winning AM Awards. But this accolade is for its very deserving business leader.

The 2024 Business Leader of the Year Award is sponsored by Premia Solutions.

Sponsor's comment

We at Premia Solutions are delighted to congratulate Stuart Mustoe, CEO of TrustFord, this year's Business Leader of the Year, on their outstanding achievement at the AM Awards. It is an honour to witness such dedication and innovation within our industry.

As sponsors of this prestigious award for the seventh consecutive year, we remain committed to supporting excellence and leadership in the automotive sector. Stuart Mustoe exemplifies the very best qualities of a business leader: visionary thinking, unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction, and a relentless drive to push the industry forward.

Their success is a testament to the hard work and passion that defines our community. At Premia Solutions, we are proud to be part of an industry that continually strives for improvement and excellence.

Congratulations once again to Stuart Mustoe. We look forward to seeing their continued contributions to the automotive world and are excited about the future innovations and advancements they will undoubtedly lead.

Ian Simpson, director, Premia Solutions