Robert Forrester has begun injecting fresh blood into Bristol Street Motors group within months of its takeover by his AIM-listed company, Vertu Motors.

The former managing director of Reg Vardy has overseen a number of managerial changes at dealership and regional level since acquiring the £636m turnover business in February.

One recruit is Ian Reddish, a long-serving Reg Vardy employee with a CV showing general manager roles at Doncaster Renault, Sheffield Citroen and Leeds Renault. Reddish has been appointed general manager of Chesterfield Vauxhall, part of Blakes Holdings which Vertu bought last month, pushing its total number of dealerships to 40.

Patrick Lawrence, formerly regional used car director within Bristol Street Motors, has been moved to general manager of its Oxford Peugeot dealership. Matt Reilly has been brought in as general manager of Nottingham Citroen. Reilly was previously a sales manager with Reg Vardy and Pendragon’s Evans Halshaw division.

Northampton Peugeot’s new general manager is Simon Ellis. Ellis has been with Bristol Street Motors for a number of years, most recently as regional new car sales director for the South Midlands.

Joe Marsden has joined as general manager of Leicester Citroen. Marsden is highly experienced, having spent more than 20 years at Hartwell Group in general manager and director roles.

A source close to Vertu Motors said that Forrester aims to take a lot of cost out of the business, and is set on bringing in some top talent from the Vardy team. Forrester admitted: “Our aim in Vertu Motors has always been to attract the best motor retail professionals possible to lead our acquired businesses.”