Hendy strengthens leadership with appointment of new head of marketing

Family-owned dealer group Hendy has promoted Louise Woolley as its new head of marketing where she will lead the strategic and tactical marketing efforts across the company’s 80 sites.

Woolley's promotion fills a vacancy created by the departure of Vicky Hart, who left the top 20 AM100 group to join Waylands Automotive in August, replacing its head of marketing April Wyatt who'd been with Waylands since its inception in 2017 by chief executive John O'Hanlon.

Woolley, who joined Hendy Group in 2022 from outside the motor retail industry as its marketing manager, brings over 15 years of experience in strategic marketing to her new role.

In May this year she, Hart and the rest of Hendy's marketing team scooped the 2024 AM Award for Marketing Strategy of the Year, applauding the achievements of the 15-strong team with a successful ‘When ’Arry met ’Endy’ campaign utilising the group's ambassador Harry Redknapp, the former football manager and winner of I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here.

Woolley will report to Mark Busby, director of commercial operations, and will focus on enhancing brand awareness, increasing customer engagement, and ensuring all communications align with the group's vision and values.

Busby is one of the many franchised dealer group executives lined up to share his expertise at the 2024 Automotive Management Live show on November 13 at Birmingham NEC - attendance is free for dealers and OEMs who register in advance.

Busby praised Woolley’s contribution, saying: "Louise has shown exceptional strategic leadership and marketing expertise.

"Her creativity and commercial instincts will help us uncover new revenue streams and strengthen our operational foundations for growth."

Woolley said: "I’m honoured to step into this position. Hendy’s commitment to excellence and innovation drives everything we do, and I’m eager to enhance our customer experience both online and in our showrooms."

In August Hendy Group announced it had hired former Lookers chief operating officer Duncan McPhee to join its board as COO.