Colin McNab, Group Operations Director at Northern Ireland’s largest car retailer, Charles Hurst, has confirmed his retirement.
Colin, who has worked in the local motor trade for almost 50 years, joined Charles Hurst in 1974 as an apprentice before quickly rising to a range of senior positions.
At 25, he took his first senior position within the Renault business, becoming branch manager for Charles Hurst Renault in 1985 and, by the age of 29, was promoted to the position of Franchise Director in 1989.
A Fellow of the Institute of Motor Industry since 1980, Belfast-born Colin was appointed Group Operations Director in 2012 and in 2016 brought home the UK Lifetime Achievement Award at the prestigious Car Dealer Awards after being praised for his services to the industry at an event attended by more than 600 top motor industry representatives.
Thanking staff, suppliers, partners and customers, Colin McNab said: “It has been my pleasure to lead Charles Hurst over many years and to bring the business to where it stands today, along with the help of each and every person in our company. I have no doubt that Charles Hurst will continue to go from strength to strength and I wish my colleagues every success for the future. I’m sure you can imagine it has not been an easy decision to make, however after much thought and deliberation I believe now it is the right time for me to step away and enjoy my retirement.
“I would like also like to thank our customers, suppliers and all our partners for their support over almost five decades and to reassure them of Charles Hurst’s unwavering and continued commitment to professional service, choice and value in every area of the business.”
One of Northern Ireland’s largest employers and largest investors, Charles Hurst employs more than 800 staff across eight sites throughout Northern Ireland, and in the Republic of Ireland, and is regarded as one of the region’s best business success stories.
The Top 100 company was founded in 1911 and its headquarters in Belfast is located on a 30-acre retail site, making it the largest automotive park in Europe.
