The Independent Motor Dealers Association (IMDA) has bolstered its ranks with the addition of two new members.
Joining the IMDA is Allan Thompson, MD of County Garage Ford and chairman of the National Ford Retail Dealers Association (NFRDA).
Also coming on board is Sandy Burgess, ex-CEO of the Scottish Motor Trade Association (SMTA).
Thompson has been involved in automotive for all his working career, in various roles within franchised dealers.
He holds a Retail Automotive master’s degree with Loughborough university, developed in collaboration with Ford Motor Company and is a fellow with the IMI.
Over the last 10 years or so, he has played a role in several Ford working groups and dealer councils.
He currently serves as chair of the NFRDA. The group, with around 100 members.
Thompson said: “In 2024, the NFRDA saw the huge benefits the IMDA could offer, and we were delighted to bring 100 new members to the IMDA.
“All of us at the IMDA and NFRDA share a common goal – assisting independent and family run dealerships by remaining competitive and putting customers at the heart of everything we do. With the industry undergoing rapid transformation, I look forward to strengthening our collaboration and helping support fellow dealers.”
Burgess has been in the automotive Industry for over 50 years and from 2015 to 2024 was chief executive of the SMTA representing over 1,450 members.
He has experience of working with government departments and investors across all business models.
Burgess said: “I wanted to join the IMDA as I have watched on from the sidelines over the years since the IMDA was formed and quickly realised that the offer made by the IMDA actually suited my very small but fiercely independent used car site to a tee!
“With my background I was always going to struggle to be part of any other trade associations with which I had many years of experience at the highest levels, so the fresh and unincumbered opportunity that presented itself with IMDA membership was the perfect fit.”
