Eddie Hawthorne to step down as Arnold Clark chief executive

After 27 years at the helm of top 10 AM100 group Arnold Clark, Eddie Hawthorne is to step down as chief executive and group managing director on 28 March.

Russell Borrie, the company’s current chief operating officer, has been appointed as his successor.

“It’s been a privilege to lead Arnold Clark for such a long period of time,” Hawthorne said.

“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved and of our employees, who have shown resilience and dedication through some challenging years. I have full confidence in the leadership team to continue steering the business in the right direction.”

Borrie, who will officially take over as chief executive, expressed his gratitude for Hawthorne’s leadership and the trust placed in him by the board.

“Eddie’s vision, insight, and dedication have been instrumental in our success,” Borrie said. “Even in difficult times, his ability to turn challenges into opportunities has strengthened the business. I’m honoured to take on this role and lead Arnold Clark into the future.”

Borrie will be supported by John Clark, chief commercial officer, and David Cooper, chief financial officer, as the company moves forward under its new leadership structure.

While stepping away from his executive role, Hawthorne will remain on the main board in a mentoring and oversight capacity.

His leadership has been pivotal in shaping Arnold Clark into one of the UK’s largest and most successful automotive retailers.

In 2017, following the death of Sir Arnold Clark, Hawthorne told Automotive Management about how he came to join the motor retail industry and how he experienced Sir Arnold’s willingness to strike a quick deal early on.

“I remember the first time we met. I was a fresh-faced, non-grey-haired employee of the business’s official auditor 30 years ago. On the day I finished, he said ‘I’ll see you next year’. I said ‘no you won’t, I’m looking to get out of the profession and into industry’. He said ‘come and work for me’.

“He dealt with me right there, on the spot. After 20 minutes, I was working for Arnold Clark."

With 12,000 employees, Arnold Clark is one of the UK’s most influential motor groups. Under Hawthorne’s leadership, Arnold Clark has solidified its position as a giant in the UK automotive retail sector. A consistent force in the AM100 rankings, the company secured the second spot in the latest rankings, boasting an impressive £366.1 million in earnings and a turnover of £4.92 billion, meriting the status as the UK’s most profitable car dealer group.

A relentless pursuit of growth has defined Hawthorne’s tenure with strategic acquisitions pivotal to the dealership group’s success.

December 2024 saw several ambitious deals. That month, Arnold Clark expanded its Renault and Dacia footprint by acquiring dealerships in Birkenhead and Liverpool to strengthen its nationwide presence with the addition of 17 key sales points in addition to acquiring Wingrove Motor Company, a family-run business with a 99-year legacy in the North East. The same month saw the company announce an exclusive partnership with Corvette, introducing right-hand drive models tailored for the UK market.

With over 200 dealerships representing more than 25 manufacturers, Hawthorne has built a dealership titan that today offers over 20,000 vehicles in stock at any one time.