Donnelly Group appoints Steven Hughes as JLR business manager

Donnelly Group has appointed Stephen Hughes as business manager at its Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) dealership in Dungannon.

Hughes said that he was "thrilled" to be promoted to his new position with the Northern Ireland car retail group which he has worked for since 2006.

His appointment follows Donnelly's recent appointment of Andy Duke as general manager of Donnelly Honda, in Dungannon.

Commenting on Hughes' new role, Donnelly managing director Dave Sheeran said: “We are pleased to appoint Stephen as our new business manager at Donnelly Group Jaguar Land Rover, bringing with him more than two decades of experience in the motor industry.

“Working closely with the sales team and senior management, Stephen will spearhead various initiatives to ensure the growth of our Jaguar Land Rover product range while ensuring the expectations of our customers are exceeded.”

JLR is currently formulating bold plans to shift into the luxury car retail space as the Jaguar brand transitions to become electric-only by 2025.

The changes will usher in an agency retail model and a new global network of OEM-owned retail stores which have sparked anxiety among some franchisees.

Expressing his enthusiasm to work within the evolving JLR franchise, Hughes said: "Donnelly Group is continually investing in innovative solutions to service the ever-evolving needs of the motoring market while continuing to, not only meet, but surpass the wants of our customers.

"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work alongside such a dedicated team, many of whom have been my colleagues for almost 25 years, to drive the Donnelly brand and keep customers coming back to us, year after year.

"Jaguar and Land Rover are world leaders in pushing the boundaries between luxury and efficiency, and the ongoing development of their product ranges means that it is a very exciting time to further my career within the Donnelly Group family.”