KPMG has appointed Andrew Burn as its new UK head of automotive following the departure of Justin Benson from the professional services business.

Burn is a partner within the firm’s restructuring practice and has over 25 years of experience in guiding clients through challenging situations, according to a statement issued this week.

KPMG said that Burn had provided company side restructuring advice across the public and private sectors, as well as to privately-owned and private equity-backed companies and PLCs, and had also worked extensively with clients in the automotive sector, advising on various areas including supply chain risk management.

Burn’s predecessor, Justin Benson, had left the firm to "pursue a new opportunity", the KPMG statement said.

Bernard Brown, partner and industrial manufacturing chair at KPMG UK, said: “Andrew is a passionate restructuring and deal advisory professional, with a relentless focus on helping his clients obtain favourable outcomes.

“He leads the team at a hugely challenging time for the automotive industry, as the pace of change continues to accelerate in the face of economic uncertainty and as the impact of Covid-19 unfolds.

“His wealth of experience and expertise is exactly what our clients need and will help drive our team forward.”

Burn said: “I’m really proud to be leading the automotive sector for the firm and to be working with an incredibly talented team of experts.

“With the unprecedented times we’re in, there’s no doubt that challenges and disruption lie ahead for many and this is particularly true for the automotive industry.

“I’m confident that we are well positioned to bring real value and quality solutions to our clients as we help them to respond to disruption and successfully navigate the journey that lies ahead.”

Burn’s predecessor, Justin Benson, sparked debate about the future scale of the automotive retail sector with publication of a report published in January 2018 which claimed that up to half of UK car dealerships will close by 2025.

Over 900 respondents to the KPMG Global Automotive Executive Survey 2018 informed the bleak outlook, with 75% stating that between 20% to 50% of the brick-and-mortar automotive retail sector could disappear in just seven years.

The claims were re-stated in the 2019 edition of the report.