Donnelly Group names Andrew Dickinson as head of marketing

Andrew Dickinson has joined Donnelly Group as its new head of marketing.

He brings more than 15 years of experience working in automotive marketing to the role, having held roles with dealer group Wilsons of Rathkenny, Mercedes Benz Truck and Van NI and, most recently, Wilsons Auctions.

The Northern Ireland-based AM100 car retail group currently represents 16 OEM partners, including Honda, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), Renault, Vauxhall and Volkswagen from its nine locations across the region.

Dave Sheeran, managing director at Donnelly Group, said: “We welcome Andrew to the Donnelly Group team. He brings with him significant marketing experience, an excellent track record of developing and successfully implementing marketing strategy, and an undeniable passion for the automotive industry.

“Andrew will work closely with the senior team and our manufacturer partners in the development of marketing strategy and innovative marketing techniques to keep the Donnelly Group at the forefront of the industry in Northern Ireland and a trusted information source for our customers at a time of rapid change in vehicle technology and consumer behaviour”

Dickinson added: “Donnelly Group has always represented great value, exceptional attention to detail, and outstanding customer service, which keeps customers returning to Donnelly Group year after year, and generation after generation.

“I am privileged to lead a talented marketing team and will be working closely with all of them to further their professional development and bring together their individual skillsets and build on their experience to maximise the effectiveness of the team.

“It’s not every day that you have the opportunity to work with one of Northern Ireland’s leading car and van retailers, and I am thrilled to now be a part of it.”

Donnelly Group returned to profit in 2020 after delivering £7.2 million of annualised structural cost savings during the COVID-hit year in car retail. The result represents a near-155% improvement on 2019’s £2.66m pre-tax loss.