Dan Joyce to head Kwik Fit retail operations, Paul Boulton bows out

Kwik Fit is promoting current fleet director Dan Joyce to retail operations director, taking over from Paul Boulton, who is retiring after over 43 years.

As retail operations director, Joyce will be responsible for the running of around 700 centres under both the Kwik Fit and STS Tyre Pros brands and will also retain the responsibility for Kwik Fit fleet.

Paul Boulton joined Kwik Fit in 1980 as a tyre technician in its Warrington centre, before being promoted to managerial roles and then to divisional director. 

He was appointed retail sales and operations director in 1999 and has successfully led the company’s operations through various changes in ownership, times of economic and industry uncertainty, as well as the unprecedented operational challenges of the pandemic. 

 Since the company was acquired by Itochu in 2011, he has overseen a period of major investment in the centre network, with a rolling refurbishment programme and new locations and centre teams being regularly added.

Mark Slade, managing director at Kwik Fit, said: “ Paul’s is a truly fantastic story - from joining the business on the workshop floor to leading the entire centre network. He has poured his heart and soul into the company and he leaves for a well deserved retirement knowing that his huge contribution is fully recognised by everyone at Kwik Fit.”

Paul Boulton said: “Although I’ve been working with Mark and Dan on our succession plan since last year, it was still a very emotional moment for me when we went public with the news.  I was a little overwhelmed by the response and am incredibly grateful for the messages of congratulations I’ve received. 

Slade said: “It’s testament to the strength of the talent we have within the business that we’ve been able to plan a seamless transition. Dan has been working alongside Paul for a number of months in preparation for the handover and I’m very excited about Dan leading the operations as we embark on the next phase of Kwik Fit’s growth.”

Pictured: Dan Joyce new retail operations director Paul Boulton outgoing retail operations director and Mark Slade managing director at the 2024 Kwik Fit conference