Hendy Group CEO Paul Hendy joins Automotive 30% Club

Hendy Group's chief executive Paul Hendy and chief operating officer Simon Bottomley have become the latest additions to the Automotive 30% Club.

Hendy said that membership of the 30% Club represents Hendy’s commitment to supporting and actively engaging in creating a diverse, inclusive and gender balanced workforce.

The voluntary network of CEOs and MDs from across the UK-based automotive network has a target of filling at least 30% of key leadership positions within its organisations with women by 2030.

Hendy said: “Being a member of the Automotive 30% Club is just one part of our broader people agenda to create an inclusive workplace environment, ensuring that we are in a market-leading position to attract and retain the very best talent.”

Bottomley will work closely with Hendy’s senior team to encourage inclusive leadership, progressive hiring practices and the development of a world class learning curriculum, the retailer said.

Hendy added: “We are committed to promoting diversity and working to remove barriers that may exclude certain groups from opportunity and career progression while continuing to focus on building and developing capability across all our team, promoting by meritocracy.”

Hendy Group joins the club following a string of new additions including Cox Automotive International president Martin Forbes and Manheim Auction Services and NextGear Capital MD Liam Quegan.

Founded by Julia Muir in 2016, the Automotive 30% Club has since grown to become a varied network of motor manufacturing, retailing and supplier companies.

Muir said: “I am very pleased to welcome Paul Hendy CEO and Simon Bottomley COO of Hendy Group to the Automotive 30% Club, and it's great to have on board a company with such inclusive values and a progressive mindset.

“Hendy Group represents a number of our OEM members, including Skoda, SEAT, Toyota, Kia and Mazda so there will be useful synergies as these brands drive forward their 30 by 30 strategies.”

In a special AM ‘guest opinion’ post to mark International Women’s Day 2021, Muir explains how fixing car retail to allow women to feel safe and thrive has little to do with being ‘woke’ or ‘politically correct’.

She also said on a separate occasion that women are 'losing out disproportionately' during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In January 2021, Jardine Motors and Trustford HR directors Clare Martin and Sharon Ashcroft gained special recognition as the Automotive 30% Club presented its annual ‘Inspiring Women’ automotive sector awards in a bid to recognise the sector’s established and emerging female talent.