CarShop promotes Carl Jackson to regional operations director role

Sytner Group’s CarShop used car supermarket division has promoted its Bristol site’s head of business, Carl Jackson, into the role of regional operations director.

The move follows the promotion of Jon Easton as its new operations director and coincides with an expansion of the used car retail operation led by Sytner’s US-based owner Penske Aurtomotive.

Jackson said: “I’m over the moon to be taking on this role at such an exciting time in CarShop’s journey and am eager to support the expansion of the business across the UK by delivering on our strategy of providing a true omnichannel buying experience.

 “CarShop prides itself in always doing right by its colleagues, customers and communities – and I’m looking forward to continuing to promote this ‘good carma’ as part of my new role.”

Jackson joined CarShop as business manager for the Cardiff store in 2012 and was promoted into the post of regional operations manager three years later.

Three years later he was promoted to head of business at CarShop Cardiff, taking up the same position in Bristol three years later business at CarShop Bristol – the company’s first Sytner-built store.

As regional operations director Jackson will oversee the opening of CarShop’s newest store, in Wolverhampton, which is set to officially open its doors to the public in September.

He will also take operational responsibility of several other stores across the UK, including Bristol.

Earlier this year Penske revealed that the CarShop brand was set to go global as it looked to rebrand its US CarSense operation and expand its used car supermarket footprint from 17 to 40 locations by 2023.

The growth strategy coincided with the division’s growth in the UK.

CarShop opened its new Nottingham location in December, added a new CarShop Express collection point in Leicester in April and has revealed its plans to create its 14th used car supermarket site with the redevelopment of an Autoworld dealership in Willenhall, near Wolverhampton.

AM also recently reported that the business had entered a planning application to transform a former Showcase cinema in Derby as part of its ongoing expansion plans.

CarShop said that the recent promotions of Easton and Jackson “highlighted the effectiveness of the retailer’s in-house training and mentoring schemes”.

Nigel Hurley, the chief executive of CarShop, said: “CarShop is a people-centered business. We’re all about good cars, good service, good people – that’s why we’re called the home of good carma.

“We believe that investing in our colleagues is the best way to retain the exceptional talent that we have, and we do this through offering continuous in-house learning and growth opportunities to help boost their skills and progress their careers with us.

“Carl is a hard-working, committed and valued member of the team who has gone from strength to strength throughout his career with us, chalking up some very significant successes including the opening and smooth running of the first Sytner Group-built CarShop store in Bristol.

“I know that he will excel in his new role and help us to drive our ambitions forward.”