Former General Motors' chairman and chief executive Bill Parfitt has joined Grant Thornton.

He is a consultant with its automotive advisory team.

Parfitt CBE said: "I’m incredibly passionate about the UK motor industry and I want to see it back to where it was and rise to the challenges currently being presented.

"We know, for example, with the product plans which manufacturers now have in place, that there is an opportunity for an incremental of at least £11 billion of business for UK suppliers, but the question is, are they geared up for that?

"This is where we can support the supplier base at all levels to seize the opportunities ahead.”

Parfitt headed GM from 2008 to 2011.

He joins Paul Burrows and Neil Barrell on the automotive advisory team.