Industry tributes have been pouring in for Chris Learmonth, managing director of AM100 car dealer BMW Group Park Lane in London, following the unfortunate news of his death.

The business, which is owned by BMW, confirmed the sad news on social media on March 20.

A statement from the dealership said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our friend and colleague, Chris Learmonth, Park Lane managing director.

“We know everyone who had the good fortune to know him and work with him will be as shocked as we are about this news and Chris will be deeply missed.

“On behalf of everybody at Park Lane we would like to offer his family and everybody close to him our deepest condolences.”

BMW Park Lane handles much of the brand’s diplomatic sales, corporate sales and VIP customers.

Learmonth had many years of industry experience, starting his automotive career with Ford and then Dagenham Motors. 

He joined Ford Retail Group as a regional sales manager in 2009, before joining Inchcape Audi as head of business at its East Kent location.

Learmonth then joined Trust Ford as a general manager at its North London store, before taking up the position to lead BMW & Mini Park Lane as managing director for the last seven years.

Hundreds of tributes have been posted across social media that speak of Chris as ‘someone that had the gift of making everyone feel special to him, a great charismatic leader’, another said how much of a brilliant ambassador Chris was for the BMW brand, how dedicated he was to his colleagues and that he was a ‘selfless leader of the highest order’.

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