Essex Auto Group was born as Essex Ford in 1989 when Philip Maskell had an opportunity to buy his first dealership, in Basildon, with a £3 million investment from venture capitalist.
Ten years later he bought out the venture capitalist. Several acquisitions on, the business rebranded as Essex Auto Group when, like many other retailers traditionally devoted to the Blue Oval, it expanded its franchise portfolio to take advantage of the broader opportunities on offer.
Mazda was first in 2004, then came Fiat, Kia, Seat, Volvo and Skoda. Maskell said multi-franchising was a logical step for a business operating five Ford dealerships between Southend and the M25.
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An award-winning journalist and editor, with two decades of experience covering the motor retail industry, and accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) plus the National Council for the Training of Journalist (NCTJ)
As editor of AM since 2016, Tim is responsible for its media content, planning and production across AM's multiple channels, including the website, digital reports, webinars, social media and the editorial content of AM's events, Automotive Management Live and the AM Awards. His focus is on interviewing senior leaders of franchised dealer groups and motor manufacturer national sales companies to examine latest developments in UK motor retail.
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