APRIL 2024 AFTERMARKET 55 www.aftermarketonline.net across our three pillars; Customer, people and product. This includes sales, workshop concepts like 1TEC Auto Hub, along with Diagraph. The most important part this year is the new technology. We have a very sustainable and diverse business, and I am in awe of what we have achieved.” Next up was Group Commercial Director Anthony McAteer: “Everything we do should be customer-backed. We want the right product in the right place at the right time.” Then the company’s Chief Financial Officer Andy Southby explained how the company would stay on top going forward: “We know the economic crisis is still giving our customers challenges, and there are real challenges in the market around retaining skilled labour. Supporting them with technical information and more is so important. The most important thing over the next few years is to continue to add value to the aftermarket.” Going for gold At this point, the attendees split into four groups and made their way around the various zones. The LKQ Zone covered the company’s internal component brands, such as Starline. Meanwhile, the Supplier Zone included more than 30 stands. Between these large rooms, attendees would be able to catch up with brands in their Gold Supplier Zones, as well as the breakout rooms already discussed where companies like Brembo and ZF were able to offer updates on new methods and items. During this time, Aftermarket made it into Schaeffler’s room, and spoke to Alistair Mason, Schaeffler REPXPERT Technical Manager for the UK and Ireland: “It's fantastic for us. It's great two-way communication. Obviously, we're talking to the Account Managers and the Branch Managers, telling them what support we can give them. However, it’s also about the information they're giving us, what's happening, where they need more support, where we can improve our service to them. One of our messages across the two days is the support that we can give to the branch managers to then pass on to their garages.” Challenges During the morning, delegates continued to move between the various zones in their groups, with everything from new lubricants to innovative call-handling systems being covered. In the middle of all this, we managed to grab a few minutes with CEO Kevan Wooden. Commenting on the show, he said: “The team have put on a very extensive show in terms of allowing our suppliers to exhibit their full range and we've got a lot of time to get them through the suppliers. But in this changing world, we've got new challenges coming.” “On EV, we've got a very mature, competitive market, both on the B2C and on the B2B side. This is a really good opportunity to get in front of the Branch Managers and tell them about what we're doing to retain our market position, and around technology investments.” The company is also looking to support the aftermarket, as Kevan noted: “There is a simple logic for me. Our survival depends completely on our customers thriving. This means we have to arm them. If we make them successful, even if we don't grow even 1% of share, if they grow, we grow. Right now, of course, we being a bigger and better partner. We like to get better share as well, but it's about growing our industry. Even the barriers between the aftermarket and dealers are beginning to break down. “At our core, we still sell car parts, but there's so much more. It's about finding out what the problems are and then trying to find different solutions. One great example is the free business courses we are offering. It’s a cost for us but it's an investment. The return is making the garages successful. It's something we got the resources to do, we got the commitment to do and we got the passion to do.” Remarkable In case we had started to forget how fragile supply chains can be, we received a recent reminder via the shipping situation around the Red Sea. We asked Kevan how LKQ Euro Car Parts was reacting: “We've got some remarkable people in our import/export team. I was getting daily maps of container ships queuing for the Suez Canal. I'd never seen this before. “We've already placed more orders to deal with the lead time problem. We've obviously got the buffers in the form of our million square foot CDC. Ultimately, we've been lucky when there have been shocks.” On their place in the market, Kevan said: “We're happy sometimes to be the second choice. Why? First, because we're not arrogant. Second, it's good for our business to be second choice rather than third or fourth. Once you've gained that customer, you've got the ability to maintain them, grow and support them in other ways.” The conference was at the start of Kevan’s second month in the job. We asked him how he was finding the role, taking over after Andy Hamilton was tapped to run LKQ Europe: “For a while Andy had not only been running the UK but also running Italy as well. That's meant that we've all, as a team, had to step up and fill his big shoes. Fortunately, that’s meant there's been a degree of succession planning and evolution built-in” He went on to say: “LKQ’s global executive have allowed me to lead because they believe in our team and our 9,000 people and likewise Andy's had that terrific opportunity to be in charge of Europe. Again, that's a great reflection on the confidence they have in our UK & Ireland business.” Speaking about the conference, Kevan concluded: “In a competitive, challenging environment, the Branch Managers Conference brought our colleagues, suppliers and customers together to reflect on everything we've done to reinforce our position as customers’ partner of choice, but we know we can never rest on our laurels in a dynamic market like the aftermarket.” Below: Kevan Wooden Chief Executive, LKQ UK & Ireland, gives the keynote speech at the conference
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