Lookers chairman Fred Maguire, who will attend this month's AM automotive forum 'Putting profit before turnover', wants other senior motor retail executives to open their minds to fresh ideas. The forum is at the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon, Warwickshire, on Thursday, November 28.

“Motor retailers must look at new ways of measuring financial success and this AM event will be a great opportunity to debate some radical ideas,” says Maguire, this year's RMI president.

“Return on capital employed is already used as an important measure of performance within Lookers but Grant Thornton Motor Retail and International Car Distribution Programme (ICDP) promise some fresh thinking. I look forward to hearing what they have to say.”

Sean Gavin, finance director at Whites Group, who has been working with the ICDP on the ideas, will contribute to the debate.

Gavin has seen the programme being tested at Groupo Fernando Simao, a £160m turnover multi-franchise dealer group based in Oporto, Portugal.

Pedro Simao, who heads the business, will also be at the forum to explain the system to dealer group chief executives, finance directors and other senior management.

Teams from Grant Thornton Motor Retail and ICDP will make presentations at the forum where the format will place delegates at round tables. There will be round-table discussions and open-forum debates during the day.

Places cost £249 + VAT – to reserve or for more information, contact Sue White by phone (01733 468272) or e-mail (sue.white@emap.com).