Auto Trader’s Leatherbarrow joins Chorley Group in key role

Chorley Group has appointed industry expert Stuart Leatherbarrow to the senior management team as group used strategy manager.

With over 30 years in the industry Leatherbarrow brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having spent the last decade as the partnership director at Auto Trader where he played a pivotal role in shaping the company's approach to partnering with automotive retailers, developing goal-led strategies and data driven retail solutions.

Adam Turner, managing director at Chorley Group, said: “Stuart’s work at Auto Trader, combined with his first-hand dealer side experiences places him perfectly to develop this new role for the group."

Turner emphasised the need for strategic enhancements and data management as the used market continues to evolve and the Chorley Group experiences significant growth, doubling in size over the past three years with multiple acquisitions and new brands added to the family owned group.

Chorley Group currently operates 16 businesses across the Northwest and is planning to grow that up to 21 businesses in 2024, employing a workforce of 350.

“Chorley Group is a perfect fit for me and an opportunity I couldn’t turn down, “said Leatherbarrow. “I’ve always admired how they work, and I think their vision, their purpose, their customer-centred approach, and their plans for growth make this new role a really exciting prospect.”

In addition to developing the Chorley Group used strategy, Leatherbarrow will work in tandem with the development team and the new lead software developer Caio Pereira to focus on simplifying systems and streamlining processes with a focus on excellence and enhancing client experiences.