The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has announced the strategic transition of its Executive Team to position the organisation for the challenges and opportunities the automotive market is currently facing.
As part of the changes, current Chief Executive Steve Nash has announced his intention to step down once a suitable replacement has been selected. This will bring an end to his 22-year association with the IMI, holding the role of CEO since 2013.
With the entire automotive industry going through a number of changes, as new safety systems and powertrain types are regulated into use, and a skills shortage persists, the IMI hopes its new appointments will help it to provide a stronger voice in the years ahead.
Building the Executive Team
The new Executive Team will provide strategic and day-to-day direction for the organisation’s 118 employees and more than 110,000 members, enabling the IMI Board to begin recruiting a permanent Executive Team within the next 12 months.
During this period of transition, which came into effect on 1st July 2024, the Board has appointed Kevin Finn, who has been Chair of the IMI since 2020, in the newly created role of Executive Chair. Azlina Bulmer has been appointed as Managing Director with responsibility for the overall management, organisation and staffing of the IMI. Simon Barrell has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer.
Commenting on the creation of the new Executive Team, Kevin Finn said: “As the professional body for people in automotive, the IMI remains committed to our community of over 110,000 members and the future success of the sector.
“The combination of insight and expertise from outside the industry alongside the wealth of automotive and skills experience already on our Board puts the IMI in the strongest position to help our members and the wider automotive community prepare for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Steve Nash to hand over the reigns
With the new Executive Team in place, Steve Nash announced that he would be stepping down from the CEO role once a suitable replacement has been appointed, although this process may take some time.
“Having been directly involved at the Institute for over 22 years, as Chairman, President and, since January 2013, CEO, I have been planning my departure for a while but chose to delay those plans due to other changes in our senior leadership over the past eight months,” Steve Nash posted on LinkedIn. “But I now believe that the time has come to hand the reins to someone else, and I will remain engaged until such time as they are appointed, and an orderly handover has taken place.
“I am proud of what has been achieved since I became CEO in 2013, with the support of a fantastic team at [IMI head office] Fanshaws and equally fantastic and supportive Board. Central to everything we do as the industry’s professional body are our members and I am particularly proud that we have seen a 12-fold increase in membership during my tenure, with membership now covering all levels of the industry from apprentices to Board level.”
Finn added: “We would also like to thank Steve Nash for his long-standing commitment, having been directly involved at the Institute for over 22 years, as Chairman, President and, since January 2013, CEO.”
Steve Nash has highlighted that this is not retirement, and he is looking forward to witnessing the future success of the IMI with its new Executive Team.
