Chairman to leave car retailer after 15 months

A search has begun for a new chairman at Lookers as Ian Bull is to step down after just 15 months in the role.

Bull will leave the car retailer at the end of this month “for personal reasons”.

Lookers said it “is making strong progress in the delivery of the strategic priorities” and its performance remains on track. The group sells around 15,000 cars a month through its 144 dealerships.

In October the Altrincham-based motor dealership raised its full-year expectations of pre-tax profits being at least £75m.

Bull, who was previously chief financial officer at Parkdean, Ladbrokes and Greene King, said: “I am sorry to be leaving at this exciting time for Lookers, with the business trading well and continuing to perform strongly.”

Senior independent director Paul Van der Burgh will become interim non-executive chairman while the search for a new chair begins.

Sue Farr, who joined the board in September, will assume the role of interim senior independent director.

Van der Burgh added: “Ian has been instrumental in helping us to develop and implement our strategic priorities.”