Thomas Ashby
George Town
Summary
Dynamic and dedicated professional with extensive experience in the motor industry, progressing from apprentice to top-tier management. Proven track record of successfully managing operations for prestigious manufacturers, including Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen Group, BMW & MINI, and the emerging brand Changan. Expertise in driving performance improvements and fostering strong team collaboration to achieve organizational goals. Committed to delivering exceptional results through a combination of industry knowledge and a passion for automotive excellence.
Results-driven management professional with proven ability to lead teams to success. Strong focus on team collaboration, operational efficiency, and achieving measurable outcomes. Adept at strategic planning, process improvement, and fostering culture of accountability and excellence. Known for adaptability and consistently meeting changing organizational needs.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Parts and Bodyshop Manager
Trac Automotive
George Town, Grand Cayman
08.2025 - Current
- I made the bald move from the UK to Grand Cayman to further my career and work for a new and exciting brand in Changan.
- Managing a team of three in the Parts department and Managing the Bodyshop overseeing the day-to-day operations of the business.
- My experience helped assist the Service Department and Workshop Controller when needed.
Commercial Manager
Perfect Paint
Milton Keynes
03.2019 - 08.2025
- At Perfect Paint my position was to assist the two directors with the day to day running of the business where I split between the front and back of house, I run and organise the workshop by issuing the work to the relevant technicians depending on their skill set also overseeing all the parts that need to be ordered in and pre-order the parts for vehicles that are due in for repair. Within this role I oversee all aspects of supplier accounts making sure the business is getting the best service and discounts; I had a strong business relationship with suppliers and extensive contacts within the trade.
- I was the point of contact for all of the business account customers where I regularly had meetings making sure our service is delivered to the upmost highest standard and ensure all customer needs are met.
- Not only did I maintain accounts I also researched and visited potential new accounts and arrange meetings to gain future business.
Branch Manager
Andrew Page Ltd After Market Parts
Milton Keynes And Luton
08.2015 - 03.2019
- I joined Andrew Page after being approached by the Branch Manager as I was once previously a customer of Andrew Page. I wanted to settle within a fast growing company where my ambitions and expectations would be met. I was a previous customer of Andrew Page and had a good relationship with the staff. I joined the team in the telesales office where I soon made an impression by reaching sales and promotional targets. Some of my achievements were that I was within the top sales advisors in the company and also had the best sales figures in the region consistently month after month.
- Within a year I was promoted to Sales office Manager (SM) where I lead a team of three. My key duties in this position are to run a profitable sales office and make sure we hit our Daily sales target towards the monthly target. I was confident in delegating tasks to different members of staff dependent on their work ability so that the task was completed efficiently and correctly. Other responsibilities and tasks I carried out on a daily and weekly basis were cash ledger, one on one meetings with staff, wages and holidays, health and safety and driver fuel recordings. I didn’t only focus on the sales office I managed all members of staff in the operations side of the business too.
- In May 2015 I applied for the Branch Manager Position at our Luton Branch where we had struggled to maintain the consistent team of sixteen and had seen a number of Branch Managers in a short amount of time. I knew what challenge I was up against and could not wait to put my mark on the Branch, within three months I increased the day-by-day sales by £2,000 and imputed the foundations towards making the Branch a stable and enjoyable work place.
- In November 2015 I was asked to Manage a second Branch as well as my current Branch which increased my staff count to 36 and I was travelling between both Branches every day. My duties and responsibilities are making sure that the Branch is reaching the sales target, reaching Branches KPI’s and setting the sales targets and forecasting a business presentation in front of my regional sales manager and operations director and projecting the following three months and looking at all aspects of my Branch on how I can achieve budget including staff costs, fuel costs and making an annual sales turnover of £1.2Million.
- Sales Manger 2013-2015
Rental Agent/Key Account Manager
Northgate Vehicle Hire
Milton Keynes
08.2012 - 08.2013
- Working in a fast-paced and even faster growing rental business dealing with a high volume of calls and walk-in customers. Renting vehicles best suited to the retail customer needs and account customers too, upselling at every opportunity to create more business for the company. Ensuring that a 95% utilisation target was met.
- I also assisted with managing the damaged fleet where i would originally asses the damage on an individual case and send the relevant information to the sub contractor Accident repair Centre for them to asses and carry out the relevant repairs with my auth and judgement on if the estimate was correct and worthy.
Workshop supervisor
MK MOT
Milton Keynes
06.2010 - 05.2012
- I was given the opportunity to carry out basic repairs and servicing on the vehicles, I also controlled the workshop by distributing jobs to the workshop technicians by knowing their skill levels. Pricing up the repairs/parts and obtaining the authority from the customer. I have also gained experience in the MOT side of the business leading on to me working on the front of house dealing with public and contract customers.
Estimator & Assistant Manager
Frosts Accident repairs
08.2006 - 06.2010
- Here I started to get to know the body shop trade and increase my knowledge of the motor trade and parts components on all makes and models of cars. From here I progressed from vehicle damage assessing which entailed dealing with the insurance engineers and estimating crash repairs and costing the repairs. I further progressed within the company to Assistant Manager under the M.D and was responsible for the day to day running of the office, workshop and workloads coming into the business. I worked closely with the workshop foreman making sure the quality of work was up to a high standard and that the completion time was meet and there was a good flow of work coming into and out of the company.
Parts Advisor
VW Wayside Kingston
06.2005 - 08.2006
Parts Apprentice
VW Trade Parts Centre Bletchley
07.2003 - 06.2005
- I Completed my Volkswagen Parts Apprenticeship.
Education
Volkswagen Parts Apprenticeship - Volkswagen Group Parts
Barnfield Technology Centre
Luton Volvo Paint And Body Manager Programme - Volvo Paint And Body
Volvo And Polestar Paint And Body Manager
In House And Online 05-2025
Paint And Body Manager - Volkswagen Paint And Body
Volkswagen Paint And Body
Online And Face To Face 08-2023
Skills
- Service excellence
- Collaborative team management
- Organizational time strategies
- Strategic decision-making
Affiliations
Appointed as one of 10 Volvo and Polestar Paint and Body Managers out of 100 + to collaborate with Volvo UK for the brand to run new innovative ideas and also to disclose models and methods that the brand would be rolling ot in the UK market.
Certification
- Volkswagen Group Approved Paint and Body Manager
- Volvo and Polestar Approved Paint and Body Manager
- Communication- City & Guilds 2004
- Vehicle Parts Operations (Environmental Studies)- City & Guilds 2005
- Vehicle Parts Operation (Vehicle Parts and Stock Management)
- Key Skills in Application of Number- City & Guilds 2009
- NVQ Customer Service 2009
- Risk Assessment Principles and Practice
- Fire Marshall and First Aid
- First Aid at Work
Timeline
Parts and Bodyshop Manager
Trac Automotive
08.2025 - Current
Commercial Manager
Perfect Paint
03.2019 - 08.2025
Branch Manager
Andrew Page Ltd After Market Parts
08.2015 - 03.2019
Rental Agent/Key Account Manager
Northgate Vehicle Hire
08.2012 - 08.2013
Workshop supervisor
MK MOT
06.2010 - 05.2012
Estimator & Assistant Manager
Frosts Accident repairs
08.2006 - 06.2010
Parts Advisor
VW Wayside Kingston
06.2005 - 08.2006
Parts Apprentice
VW Trade Parts Centre Bletchley
07.2003 - 06.2005
Volkswagen Parts Apprenticeship - Volkswagen Group Parts
Barnfield Technology Centre
Volvo Paint And Body Manager Programme - Volvo Paint And Body
Volvo And Polestar Paint And Body Manager
Paint And Body Manager - Volkswagen Paint And Body
Volkswagen Paint And Body