Executives from dealer groups and OEMs have applauded the return of Simon Hetherington to Kia UK after almost a year spent battling cancer.
The company's commercial director since 2016, Hetherington posted on LinkedIn last week that it was "great to be at Kia UK today for the first time since July 2023" after rounds of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a stem cell transplant which followed his being diagnosed with lymphoma.
He joined his Kia leadership team colleagues Paul Philpott and Steve Hicks for a photo outside the Kia UK headquarters and wrote on LinkedIn that he has "a thousand reasons to be thankful!".
A spokesman for Kia told AM that he will undertake a phased return to work as Kia UK continues to support him with his recovery.
Hetherington has been at Kia UK since 2007 and is both well known and highly respected by its franchised dealers. Among the numerous industry leaders to welcome his return were AM100 dealer group bosses Darren Ardon of Perrys, Adam Turner of Chorley Group, Mark Busby of Hendy Group and Dougal Keith of DM Keith.
Login to continue reading
Or register with AM-online to keep up to date with the latest UK automotive retail industry news and insight.
The UK's leading event for motor retailers - Wednesday, November 13.
Automotive Management Live 2024 welcomes motor retail managers from across the UK to discover business improvements, to understand best practice and to network with fellow dealers and suppliers.
Topics this year will include agency business models, the brands now entering the UK new car market, used car stock management and more. It's free to attend, but you'll need to register.
Venue: NEC, Birmingham
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST
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.
Login to comment
Comments
No comments have been made yet.