Unipart founder John Neill to retire after more than 50 years in the driving seat
The boss of British logistics giant Unipart has announced plans to retire after more than 50 years.
Executive chairman John Neill will step down this month after five decades at the helm of a business that started life as a unit of British Leyland.
Industry figures paid tribute to ‘one of the great British industrialists’ and a ‘legendary figure in manufacturing in the UK’. Neill, 77, said he plans to spend more time with his family.
The board said the businessman has ‘dedicated a lifetime to creating an iconic British company’ and will step down as Unipart celebrates its 50th anniversary.
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'Legendary figure in UK manufacturing': Unipart founder John Neill will retire this month after five decades at the helm of car parts giant
Neill began working for the now defunct British Leyland – once the UK’s biggest car manufacturer – in 1974.
He became the managing director of the parts division at just 29, making him one of its youngest executives.
The division was in ‘terminal decline’ when he joined, Neill said yesterday, as its parent company was plagued by poor productivity and strikes.
He staged a management buyout of the Unipart business in 1987, a feat he described as achieving ‘the virtually impossible’.
The father-of-two took on the role of chief executive before becoming executive chairman in 2022.
While British Leyland no longer exists, Unipart has more than 12,000 employees and provides logistics and supply chain services in 21 countries.
Last year the Oxford company’s revenue topped £1bn for the first time.
Unipart director Bryan Jackson said: ‘In all honesty, it would be incredibly difficult to replace John’s role as executive chairman.
‘Simply put, how do you follow someone who has dedicated a lifetime to creating an iconic British company with its unique spirit?’
David Bailey, a Birmingham Business School professor and automotive industry expert, said: ‘It is the end of an era, he is a really legendary figure in manufacturing in the UK.’
Without Neill’s influence, Bailey said he was ‘not sure [the UK car manufacturing industry] would have survived’.
Stephen Phipson, chief executive of industry body Make UK, said: ‘John is one of the great British industrialists. I’ve no doubt that he’ll remain a close friend to, and champion of, our sector for the years to come.’
Former Aston Martin boss Andy Palmer said his ‘achievements will remain unparalleled’.
Neill, who will stay on as the largest Unipart shareholder, told the board in May of his plans to retire.
He said yesterday that the job has ‘been one of the greatest honours’ of his life.
The industry veteran, who was born in South Africa and educated in Scotland, said it was the right time to leave to spend more time with his family.
He will step down from his day-to-day responsibilities at the end of August and will continue to support the business until the end of November.
A new non-executive chairman role will be created for Neill’s replacement, while Darren Leigh will stay on as chief executive.
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