Marshalls strengthens leadership team with senior appointments

Matt Southall has been appointed Marshall Motor Group’s strategy and technology director while David Johnson joins as property director.

Southall has significant experience of managing technology, change and development across large retail operations most recently at Lithia where he led strategic planning to identify and unlock synergies across Pendragon and Jardine Motors following their acquisitions.

He started his career in strategy consulting, spending five years at Deloitte, advising businesses on strategy development and value creation across retail, consumer business, technology and media sectors.  

He held senior strategic and operational roles at Argos, which was subsequently acquired by Sainsbury’s, and was responsible for the commercial performance and transformation of the B2B division. He then joined Pendragon in early 2020 to refresh its strategy and led the implementation of numerous initiatives to drive digital, operational and commercial change.

Johnson has over 35 years of automotive property experience, with 20 years in the corporate real estate sector and a further 15 years of consultancy work in private practice.  

He has gained over 18 years’ experience at Listers Group, serving on the operational board as property director for the last 13 years with responsibilities for site finding, acquisitions and disposals, rent reviews, lease renewals, providing restructuring advice and negotiations, strategic asset management and general portfolio advice.  

Prior to this, Johnson spent ten years in the automotive team at property consultants Colliers International.  Most recently, he has been in private practice with Rapleys as part of its automotive and roadside team advising dealer groups.

Southall said “I am delighted to take on this new challenge with Marshall Motor Group at a critical time to support this powerhouse business at a time of change across the automotive sector.”

Johnson commented “Marshall Motor Group operates one of the largest commercial footprints in the UK automotive retail space and I am looking forward to working with my new colleagues as the group continues to develop its significant retail network across 34 counties in England.”