“Real progress happens when we all take responsibility for change. Joining the Automotive 30% Club highlights Group 1 UK’s strong commitment to creating a culture where everyone feels empowered to bring their best selves to work.
We look forward to working with the Automotive 30% Club and our industry peers to drive meaningful progress in our shared mission to achieve gender balance.”
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Mark Raban, Chief Executive Officer of Group 1 Automotive UK
![James Brearley, Managing Director of Lookers James Brearley - Managing Director, Lookers [photograph]](https://www.automotive30club.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/James-Brearley-Managing-Director-Lookers-3-2.jpg)
James Brearley, Managing Director of Lookers
“Lookers are proud to be a long-standing patron and gold member of the Automotive 30% Club and we are delighted to renew our membership again in 2025.
So much great work has been done to date to create a more gender balanced industry with the support of Julia and team.”
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“I’m incredibly proud to announce that I’ve joined The 30% Automotive Club as a Patron Member, aligning with Halfords' commitment to champion gender balance within the automotive industry.
This partnership reflects a vision that we hold dear: creating a more inclusive workplace where women can thrive and advance in a sector where they have been historically underrepresented.”
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![Karen Bellairs, Chief Customer Officer and MD of Garages at Halfords Karen Bellairs, Chief Customer Officer and MD of Garages at Halfords [photograph]](https://www.automotive30club.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Karen-Bellairs-Chief-Customer-Officer-and-MD-of-Garages-at-Halfords-1-1.jpg)
Karen Bellairs, Chief Customer Officer and MD of Garages at Halfords
![Damien O'Sullivan, MD of VW Group UK Damien O'Sullivan, MD of VW Group UK [photograph]](https://www.automotive30club.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Damien-OSullivan-MD-of-VW-Group-UK-Patron.jpg)
Damien O'Sullivan, MD of VW Group UK
“Volkswagen Group UK is a decade into its DE&I journey and I’m privileged to be joining the organisation at such an advanced stage. I recognise the groundbreaking work which has taken place to bring it to its current position and I’m determined to move the organisation forward to the next level. We’re so proud of our award-winning initiatives, active Employee Network Groups and inclusive intersectional approach, and recognise these elements provide us with a fantastic foundation on which to build the next ten years of progress.”
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“I am delighted to represent Toyota as a founding patron and member of the 30% Automotive Club; championing diversity and inclusion is close to my heart as well as being really important to everyone at TGB.”
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![Scott Thompson, President and Managing Director of Toyota (GB) plc Scott Thompson, President and Managing Director of Toyota (GB) plc [photograph]](https://www.automotive30club.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Scott-Thompson-President-and-Managing-Director-of-Toyota-GB-plc-3-2.jpg)
Scott Thompson, President and Managing Director of Toyota (GB) plc
![Diane Torres, Managing Director of Nissan GB Diana Torres, Managing Director, Nissan GB [photograph]](https://www.automotive30club.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Diana-Torres-Patron-and-Sponsor-3-2.jpg)
Diane Torres, Managing Director of Nissan GB
“Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has been a priority at Nissan GB for some time, with measures taken over the last few years to create a workplace culture that allows everyone to engage fully and give their best. These have included flexible working, new progressive policies, the introduction of several inclusive employee networks, and changes to the office environment..”
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“Joining the Automotive 30% Club as a Gold Patron represents our commitment to achieving gender balance across our organisation. Whilst we have made progress already, I am determined that we continue to make further progress and ensure that we deliver on this commitment as we embark on the next chapter of growth at Carwow Group..”
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![John Veichmanis, CEO of Carwow John Veichmanis, CEO Carwow [photograph]](https://www.automotive30club.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/John-Veichmanis-CEO-Carwow-photograph.jpg)
John Veichmanis, CEO of Carwow

Eddie Hawthorne, CEO and Group MD, Arnold Clark
“We want to reward good work and we want to find the best people and offer them a career for life. By creating great opportunities for employees, and learning from organisations including the Automotive 30% Club, we will address the gender balance and help transform the automotive industry.”
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“I am delighted to be representing Lithia UK as an Automotive 30% Club patron member.
Our sector has historically been shaped by more traditional perceptions, but here at Lithia UK we are actively working to break down those barriers and stereotypes. Our goal is to create an inclusive industry where everyone can thrive, regardless of gender.”
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![Paul Westaway - Managing Director Stratstone Luxury & Exotics - Lithia UK Paul Westaway - Managing Director - Sports, Luxury & Supercar Brands for Lithia UK [photograph]](https://www.automotive30club.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Paul-Westaway-Managing-Director-Sports-Luxury-Supercar-Brands-for-Lithia-UK-Patron.jpg)
Paul Westaway - Managing Director Stratstone Luxury & Exotics - Lithia UK
![Catherine Faiers, COO, Auto Trader UK Catherine Faiers, COO, Auto Trader UK [photograph]](https://www.automotive30club.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Catherine-Faiers-COO-Auto-Trader-UK-Patron-3-2.jpg)
Catherine Faiers, COO, Auto Trader UK
For Catherine, the most powerful thing about the Automotive 30% Club, is the dual approach to driving change – from the top down and the bottom up. A good number of the CEOs and leaders of the biggest businesses in the industry are onboard and so we should have a substantial impact if we all engage and work together.
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“Tom is passionate about addressing the gender balance in the automotive technology sector and building a diverse workplace. From the leadership team and throughout the organisation, he believes that the best decisions will be made by creating an environment that enables diverse and creative thinking.”
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![Tom Kilroy, CEO, Keyloop Tom Kilroy, CEO, Keyloop [photograph]](https://www.automotive30club.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Tom-Kilroy-CEO-keyloop-Patron-3-2.jpg)
Tom Kilroy, CEO, Keyloop
![Rachel Stokes, Chief Financial Officer, LKQ Euro Car Parts Rachel Stokes, Chief Financial Officer, LKQ Euro Car Parts [photograph]](https://www.automotive30club.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Rachel-Stokes-Chief-Financial-Officer-LKQ-Euro-Car-Parts.jpg)
Rachel Stokes, Chief Financial Officer, LKQ Euro Car Parts
“The barriers that women have faced in traditionally male dominated fields – be that finance, automotive, electronics or something else entirely – are encouragingly being broken down. However, that’s not to say that we’re out of the woods just yet.”
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Martin believes that the real opportunity for inclusion and diversity is to focus on being open-minded. He comments:
“The issue is not necessarily lack of diverse talent within the industry, but employers only hiring like-minded people.”
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![Martin Forbes, President, Cox Automotive International Martin Forbes, President, Cox Automotive International [photograph]](https://www.automotive30club.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Martin-Forbes-President-Cox-Automotive-International-Patron-2-1.jpg)
Martin Forbes, President, Cox Automotive International
![Simon Smith, Managing Director of Solus Accident Repair Simon Smith, Managing Director of Solus Accident Repair [photograph]](https://www.automotive30club.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Simon-Smith-Managing-Director-of-Solus-Accident-Repair-Gold-Member-3-2.jpg)