RAA appoints new chairman

Outgoing head Philip Maskell stepped down after serving three years as its inaugural chairman. Matthew, chairman of the multi franchise Lifestyle Europe Group, was also a founder member of the RAA and has been a director since its formation. The RAA was launched in January 2005 featuring 22 franchised dealer groups running 155 sites in the UK. Each group has an equal shareholding in the organisation, with many members in the Top 100 franchised dealer listing and a combined turnover of £2.5bn.

The alliance has worked on influencing the future direction of the industry, including tackling post Block Exemption challenges. Moving to one overall buying group has delivered benefits such as one private health care scheme, an all auction used vehicle trade policy, national lubricant, and joint paint and tyre purchase programmes as well as vehicle body protection treatments. Philip Maskell said: “I have been proud and privileged to help launch and lead the RAA through its formative years and we have achieved significant progress on these objectives but the opportunities run long into the future. "Marc Matthew has the experience and energy to take the RAA to a new dimension.”