New Senior Management at CD Auction Group Ltd

Karl Howkins, the former Managing Director of Citroen UK, has joined SMH Fleet Solutions Ltd as Managing Director of auction services. He will lead CD Auction Group on the next stage of its development and integration into the SMH Group. Andy Brown, managing director since June 2014 is retiring at the end of September and will hand over the reigns of the business to Karl between now and then.

Karl, has previously held leadership roles for Opel/Vauxhall and Fiat Chrysler, in the UK, Switzerland and the Netherlands. In his new role, he will lead the company’s expansion plans with further investment in digital platforms and physical infrastructure. CD Auction Group currently operates across five sites in the UK, with onsite refurbishment and digital remarketing facilities. 

Andy Brown said: “My 6 years with the business has been great, increasing business volumes during that time, then following the acquisition by SMH having the opportunity to expand our footprint across the UK utilising SMH sites and developing our off-site product. The business has a great platform from which to further grow in size and scale. I am really looking forward to my retirement and will watch the further expansion of the business with interest.”

Martin McAuley, managing director at SMH Fleet Solutions, said: "Karl brings a wealth of experience to the group. He will further lead the integration of CD Auctions into the wider business. It is the right time to expand our management team as we accelerate our plans and ambitions for the future. We will continue to grow our technology capabilities while building out our footprint across the UK to provide best in class services to meet all of our customers’ vehicle management needs. I would like to thank Andy Brown as he retires in September, for all his efforts in growing CD Auction Group”.

CD Auction Group is uniquely placed in the industry with its digital-only offering that is a great fit for the future needs of fleets, dealers and OEMs. The current Covid-19 crisis has heightened awareness of the ease of buying online, subject to accurate images and information on vehicles being sold, something we at CD Auction have been developing over the last few years.  Our remote sales capability means far fewer links in the chain between defleet and dealer forecourt, which provides a faster, leaner and more efficient process. It's a process that will continue to expand over the coming months and evolve across the SMH Group.

I am sure you will join me in welcoming Karl to CD Auction Group, and can I put on record to all of you my thanks for your business and support over the last 6 years.