Suzuki announces that after 17 highly successful years with the brand, Dale Wyatt, Director of Automobile, has made the decision to take early retirement from the company taking effect from March 2025.

Dale has decided the time is right for him to personally step down from his role to further concentrate on his health and well being and to pursue his passions. It will also enable him to consider potential future business interests advising within the Automotive industry.

Takanori Suzuki, Managing Director Suzuki GB PLC comments:

'Dale Wyatt has been hugely instrumental in leading our brands progress and success in the UK and Republic of Ireland. To say he has made an outstanding contribution to the company during this time is a major understatement and on behalf of Suzuki I would like to sincerely thank him. From next March, Dale will be very much missed by our employees, dealer network, customers as well as the automotive media'.

Dale will continue to direct the Automobile Division until January when Suzuki warmly welcomes his succcessor David Kateley. David, who has been with the brand for 20 years, currently leads the Automobile Sales Operations division and has worked alongside Dale since 2014.

David Kateley first joined the company in 2003 in a business development role with Suzuki Financial Services and then moved to a Regional Sales Manager position for the South of England in 2007 before promotion to his current role as General Manager in 2014. During the 2014 – 2024 period David's responsibilities and remit have expanded considerably enabling him to have a broad understanding and appreciation of all of the Automobile Division business functions.

Dale Wyatt comments:

'It is never easy to step back from a job and company that you love. I have had a wonderful career at Suzuki, and I will be enthusiastically leading the automobile division until the end of this year. I am equally enthusiastic about supporting David Kateley in quarter 1 2025 as he picks up the reins from January 2025.

I am extremely proud of the Suzuki UK and Ireland automobile business that I have had the privilege of leading. As a united team we have consistently delivered on our commercial goals whilst remaining a human first company that serves the needs of its employees, dealers and customers.

Turning to the future I have worked alongside David for over a decade, and it has been a pleasure to see him grow and develop into the effective leader that he has become.

I have no doubt that the Automobile division is in safe hands with David, and I know that I will wistfully watch the business go from strength to strength as it navigates the automotive landscape.

Whilst I intend to be a tad less busy, I do have some big personal and professional goals, and as part of that I fully intend to ensure that I spend some of my time working and advising in the industry that I love'.