The Vehicle Remarketing Association (VRA) announced during its annual 'Challenges of 2019' conference that Sam Watkins will succeed Glen Sturley as its new chairman.

Currently director of sales and marketing at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground, Watkins (pictured) has been involved in the motor industry for more than 20 years, having worked for vehicle manufacturers and retail dealerships.

She succeeds Sturley, who has held the role for five years as vice chair and has been a member of the VRA since its inception February 2007. He will continue to be a board member.

Sturley said: “Being chair is something I have enjoyed enormously and I intend to stay involved in the VRA.

“I believe the organisation is thriving, as emphasised by the seminar attendance and I am sure Sam and the rest of board will continue to speak up for the remarketing sector.”

Watkins said: “I’d like to start my time as chair by thanking Glenn wholeheartedly for his service to the organisation over the years. He has done an excellent job.”

“The Seminar was very well received and is a good illustration of the important role that the VRA holds across the sector, providing essential and timely information that simply allows remarketing professionals to do their job more effectively

“We are currently formulating our 2019 programme of meetings and will soon announce the subject areas that we will be covering in the first half of the year,” said Watkins.

The VRA seminar, on “The Challenges of 2019,” attracted more than 120 delegates to Cranmore Park Exhibition Centre, Solihull.

Speakers at the Manheim-sponsored event included Mike Allen of Zeus Capital on prospects for the used car market in 2019; Jonathan Butler of Geldards on the latest ASA developments for dealers; Philip Nothard of Manheim on fuel trends; Tom Wood of Cazana on the future of used car pricing; Owen Edwards of Grant Thornton on dealer economics and; Paul Marchment of Arval on hydrogen cars.

Watkins said: “As we stressed at the Seminar, it is possible that next year will be the most volatile we have seen in the motor industry for a long time with a wide range of unpredictable factors likely to affect our industry, and we will be working hard to keep members continually updated.”