apd Directors
apd group ltd is a privately owned company registered in the United Kingdom.
It holds interests in the following companies
- apd australia pty
- apd business management ltd
- apd data services ltd
- apd auto consulting ltd
- apd research & development ltd
- apd training ltd
-----------------------------------------------------------------------Shareholders & Directors
Paul Turner - UK & Australia
As Managing Director of apd research & development, Paul oversees a specialist team working in the global automotive and aviation sectors and, in addition, divides his time between apd's UK and Australian offices as a Director and co-founder of apd Group.dd
Paul has held various senior positions within the automotive retail, manufacturing and leasing sectors since 1982. Prior to this, he qualified as a Fellow of the Gemmological Association whilst working for De Beers in the diamond industry, and holds diplomas from the NAG and CFH Institutes, Lausanne, in sales, marketing, training and retailing. dd
In his 28 years in the automotive sector, Paul has gained experience within the franchise network and with vehicle manufacturers. Until the formation of apd, Paul spent ten years with Mitac, one of Europe’s largest and much respected consultancy companies. After Mitac became part of R.L Polk in 2001, Paul completed a management buy-out of their leasing sector research division to form alchemy performance development ltd (apd) in 2003.ddd
Since the MBO, Paul has worked closely with major independent and manufacturer leasing companies to continue development of the leading customer satisfaction and sector intelligence research programmes such as Landmark CSI, fleetrax, brandtrax, and the award-winning 360osi programme.dd
During this time, Paul, with fellow Directors, has also overseen the growth of apd group into one of the major providers of business management, dealer composite, consultancy and training to major car, truck and motorcycle OEMs.5555
Paul's experience and knowledge of the whole automotive sector, but, in particular, contract hire and leasing, is unique in the motor industry.
email: paulturner@apd-group.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Derek Knight - UK & Australia
Derek entered the motor industry in 1976, working in the contract hire industry before joining Renault UK as a Regional Fleet Consultant.
His 10 years at Renault provided a wealth of experience of the operational running of a dealership through working as a Zone Sales Manager and other “hands on” roles, finally returning to his roots in accountancy when he took on the role of National Franchising Manager. This role involved the restructure of the entire dealer network, recruitment and setting up an average of 20 new businesses each year.
After leaving Renault, Derek joined the much-respected Mitac organisation, later acquired by R L Polk, firstly as a Business Management Consultant providing dealership financial management training and consultancy services to OEMs and their dealer networks.
He was latterly Director, Business Management Services, responsible for the growth of the company’s composite, business planning and training and consultancy businesses.
Together with Paul Turner, Derek founded apd business management following the withdrawal of R L Polk from the Business Management area of their business.
email: derekknight@apd-group.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Malcolm Earp – UK
Malcolm is an experienced automotive consultancy director with an international background in vehicle manufacturer retail distribution strategies.
He has successfully implemented several network business process re-engineering programmes over a 15 year period.
Malcolm started as a graduate trainee with a major motor group and created and headed the Group Fleet Sales Operation.
In the mid-eighties, Malcolm went on to head up the Rover Group European Fleet Sales and Used Car operations, neatly linking fleet supply to used car demand to stabilise residual values.
In the early nineties, he was head-hunted by the much-respected automotive consultants, Mitac, to develop new business and, as Director - Retail Distribution Services, established a major presence in Germany with a retailer change management programme for Audi and, later, extended this programme globally.
Malcolm created an international team of business development specialists to plan, measure and improve retailer network efficiency and performance in 25 countries.
email: malcolmearp@apd-c.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr Andrew Skelhorn - UKvision
a Researchdgdgf
Andrew has more than 20 years of research and analysis, backed by a doctorate in Politics and International Relations, as well as publications in industrial archaeology, transport and travel.
Prior to joining apd, Andrew gained extensive experience in international market research, analysis and documentation, multimedia, competitor intelligence, interim management and training development whilst with leading global automotive consultancy, R.L. Polk Mitac Ltd.
He has worked with all of the leading automotive manufacturers and a wide range of leasing companies, combining extensive fieldwork, research and reporting.
The production and continuous development of the Landmark Customer Satisfaction Surveys initially provided the background to his role at apd, now supplanted with a wide range of other bespoke web-centric surveys, customer research and analysis.
Presentation is also a key area of expertise, with multimedia productions, which have been specifically developed as integral parts of programmes tailored to specific results in training, marketing and assessment.
email: andrewskelhorn@apd-group.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul Steed - Australia
Paul has a varied background in the Automotive Industry. He commenced his career in the industry in Adelaide at middle management level in Dealer Fixed Operations/Sales in 1992. He managed both medium and large multi-franchised businesses, implementing standards and processes to fine tune business operations. Paul left ‘dealer land’ and joined T.U.P (The Ultimate Perspective later to become R.L. Polk Australia) as an automotive business consultant/Account Manager in 1999.
Paul became intimately knowledgeable across many facets of the automotive business. He was instrumental in developing and implementing programs with OEMs and Dealers across a broad spectrum of the business; skills based training, process and standards implementation, network planning & development, customer relationship management, product planning through pricing and specification.
Paul was appointed Northern Area Sales Director for Polk before a unique family situation required him to relocate to Cairns for two years. Not content to sit on his hands he opened a bicycle retail business which became a flaming success. With the family commitment now progressing to an international level Paul sold the business, retrieved the winter woollies out of mothballs and returned to Melbourne to again focus on automotive and related industry challenges.
email: paulsteed@apd-australia.com.au
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peter Doig - Australia
Peter has a diverse HR and sales and marketing career. Commencing with 3M Company he held a variety of HR and training and development responsibilities before being appointed Divisional National Sales & Marketing Manager.
After twelve years he spent two years with a Miami USA based people performance consulting company which whetted his appetite to one day be in his own business. Back in Australia he joined American Express as HR Director before then being appointed Marketing Director – Service Establishments.
In the early eighties Peter jumped over the corporate asylum wall and established his first consulting business. With little knowledge of who was who in the automotive business, but with a huge interest in it, he established himself as one of the leading recruitment consultants to the industry.
Since then his exposure and involvement has broadened dramatically including working directly in the industry at a management level in both retail and wholesale. As example for the three years up until 2003 he had a contract with a premium brand car manufacturer as Sales Development Director - Asia Pacific covering markets from Singapore to Japan.
email: peterdoig@apd-australia.com.au
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rob MacKenzie - Australia
Rob Mackenzie has thirty nine years of successful technical, sales, general management and consulting experience in the luxury segment of the motor industry. This is somewhat unique in that his experience has been gained at both retail and wholesale levels.
Rob has experience in labour relations and has always been a keen participant in the career development of employees. He is driven by sensitivity to customer needs and high standards of service excellence. With a sound understanding of financial management,
Rob leans towards being analytical in the development and implementation of systems. He has considerable experience in General Management and Change Management Consulting, including the start up and development of new businesses.
H
Until leaving South Africa to move to Australia mid 2008, Rob was recognised as being the “Used Car Guru”, having worked with most of the local manufacturers in the implementation, development and training for Used Car programs.
email: robertmackenzie@apd-australia.com.au