Citygate - Sales Managers Conference

Having passed the 2022 halfway mark, we are looking forward to our next Managers Conference this month, where we will be sharing our H1 achievements and plans for the months ahead.?

I didn’t get a chance to thank everyone at our last manager's conference at the Grove Hotel. So here we go …?

Firstly, it was a great honour for me to receive the Citygate Hall of Fame Award. I would like to thank all of you who believed in me and joined me on that unforgettable journey!

It was an incredible moment for me. I am beyond blessed and humbled, and almost incapable of finding the right words to convey my appreciation.

It took approximately 25 years to reach this milestone, but let me tell you, I didn’t walk it alone; I was accompanied by all the valuable and dedicated employees, colleagues, and peers who walked alongside me. Despite some challenges and sometimes against all odds, we overcame every obstacle we faced. Together we were certain about one thing; that we were going to achieve success and it’s fair to say that we have worked day-in and day-out to make Citygate one of the most recognisable and successful dealer groups in the UK.

Likewise, I am thankful to our CEO Jonathan Smith , our Managing Director @Simon McLaughlin, our Divisional Directors Richard Eagell and James Feehan , Commercial Director Simon Poole , and Finance Director Rao Akinepally , and not forgetting our Board, Connor McCormack , Robert Hazelwood and @Sarah Sillars, all of whom have shown so much trust and faith in me, which is my constant energy boost.

I would especially like to thank our customers, who remain loyal to Citygate with continuous business, which motivates us to work harder in providing the best service possible and help grow the company we are today.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our EA to the CEO, Lorraine Rogers and our HR Manager, Natalie Cumino , who work tirelessly with passion and dedication, and formulated policies navigating us through the difficulties of the pandemic (and so much more). On behalf of Citygate ….Thank you.?

Our company has not only worked on enhancing the services we offer, but the management team have also worked hard in making the working culture in Citygate better for our employees. Our company works on 5 basic principles: Value People, Think Customer, Be an Expert, Bring Passion, and Embrace Change which wouldn’t be possible without my colleagues in Group roles …?Ladies first, @Emily Leigh-Dugmore, Neelam Sharma , Ellie Cohen , and Ashley Wiltshire and Andrew Smith … also a massive thank you to Mark Denton .?

As we continue to grow and acquire more businesses, our success wouldn’t be possible without our Heads of Businesses driving their teams,? Mo Vakilipour , Neil Brown , Thomas Smith , Elliot Smith , Lee Austen , Steve Telling , Gavin Kapadia , Steve Schifano , Gary Lewis , Matthew Bianchini , and Anderson Abanulo .

This award wouldn’t be possible without the management team, for all the effort they put in and all the motivation and trust that they showed in me. With due diligence and gratitude I hold this award firmly on behalf of each member Victoria Sky , Hamid Jalat , @Husam Alrayes, Zaman Malik , Joe Gilbert , Bebe Dadi , Yoriy Bobojonov , Lawrence Card , @Nicholas Holt, @Ben Elton-Jones, Jake Mason , Christopher Petrides , Suneel Said , @Binyam Yemane, Emilia Paven , @Ashley Henderson, Richard Prosser , @Duncan Maison, @Paul Williams, Darren Fowler , Ubaid Ali , @Richard Sampson, Alex Jolly , @Ben Lawson, @Thomas Schofield, @Nick Mundy, @Mandeep Dadi, @Sean Grant, Mohammed Ali , @Daniel Young, @Nathaniel Darko, @Philip Mills, Miles Morris , and @Ryan Tooley.

They say you save the best for last… so, a shout out to the guys deep in the trenches, the Sales Executives and Sales Administrators; Ann Smith, Katka Beeby, Bernadette Tomlin, Nita Patel, Tamar Kobaliya, Vasant Patel, Piyush Patel, Meenaxi Samji, May Lee, Georgia Tasso, Linda Burn and Nicky Walsh.?Not forgetting our Showroom Hosts, Accounts Team, Bodyshop Team, Aftersales Team, Customer Communications Team, and the amazing valeters.

I would also like to mention key people at VAG who have always trusted and believed in me;?@Cathy Quinn, Helena Rose , Matthew Bench , @Phill Aubury, and Lisa Mackin-Haddon , thank you for your continuous support and investment in our company.

This moment is incredible. This award is the dream come true and obviously a motivating spirit for all my future activities. I will ensure that this award is just the beginning. As this post comes to an end, it’s important to know the courage and confidence writing this has only come from the guidance, strength, and motivation from every single Citygate employee.

Once again, thank you.?