Pendragon names new CEO

Car retail giant Pendragon has appointed a new CEO.

Bill Berman will take the reins at the listed Nottingham firm after acting as interim executive chairman since October 2019. He took on the interim role a few months after previous CEO Mark Herbert’s abrupt departure by mutual consent.

The firm experienced a turbulent 2019, closing 22 car store outlets and posting significant losses, but has since rallied slightly, as evidenced by its plans to create a new landmark showroom on the outskirts of Nottingham that could generate up to 55 jobs.

Berman, who has over 30 years’ experience in automotive retail, served as president and chief operating officer of AutoNation – the largest automotive retailer in America – before joining Pendragon.

Bill Berman

He said: “In my relatively short time with the business, it is already clear to me that Pendragon is a company with great potential and a talented team. As chief executive officer, I look forward to building on strong relationships with our team members, customers, suppliers, our OEM partners and investors as we move forward together in a period of rapid change and innovation in the automotive retail sector.”