GSF Car Parts Executive Chairman Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia and CEO Steve Horne have unveiled their plans for the brand, following its sale earlier this year.
The motor factor’s Supercharged for Success staff conference in December took on more importance than ever, taking place weeks after the new owners and management team was announced. This came following the necessary sale of the business after parent company Uni-Select was purchased by LKQ Corporation.
Ahluwalia and Horne discussed their plans with more than 300 managers from across GSF Car Parts’ national branches. In a progressive step towards transparency and relationships for the industry, all elements of the two-day staff conference were open to GSF’s supplier partners who also attended the event, increasing the total headcount to more than 360 people.
Experience at the helm
The new management team are bringing their experience of the aftermarket and motor factor industry to GSF Car Parts, with an ambitious and trailblazing vision to invest, expand and improve the group going forward.
GSF Car Parts CEO Steve Horne said: “One of the top priorities for Sukhpal and I when we joined was getting all our managers and suppliers together as soon as we could, because we know the power of communicating the plans and the vision we have for the future of GSF.
“The feedback we have had about the event from both our people and our suppliers has been phenomenal, unprecedented. There is a real passion, sense of genuine pride and energy about GSF and where we are going in 2024 and beyond, and that’s because the success we are going to drive will benefit every part of the aftermarket supply chain, from manufacturers to garages and road users.
“By investing, expanding and improving our business, we will transform GSF from a sleeping giant into the partner, seller and employer of choice in our industry.”
Successful conference for GSF Car Parts
Supercharged for Success, which ran from 10-11 December, featured a series of keynote speakers from GSF Car Parts’ senior management team, in addition to guest speaker Rob Wagman, previously the LKQ Global CEO who grew the business to a $12 million market capitalisation. Key suppliers exhibited at the event’s trade show, delivered seminars and interactive group workshops for attendees. GSF Car Parts also celebrated the best of its business in 2023 with more than a dozen awards on a day-one evening ceremony.
Among the topics covered at the event were the company’s plans to open a substantive number of new branches in early 2024, with hundreds of new jobs, together with a market-leading catalogue, delivering once-in-a-lifetime hospitality experiences for customers and to revitalise its supply chain and systems to ensure it is as easy as possible to do business with.
Executive Chairman Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia said: “It is so good to be back in the industry and helping to lead GSF forward. This is a fantastic team, and we see huge potential for the business and its people, so we are going to give them everything they need to succeed for our customers.
“By working with our industry’s best suppliers, recruiting and retaining the best people and delivering every element of the basics through exceptional service to customers, we will supercharge GSF and take this business to the next level in the years to come.”
