Former Dutton Forshaw managing director Maurice Rourke has died

Tribute has been paid to former Dutton Forshaw managing director and Inchcape chief govt Maurice Rourke.

Nationwide Franchised Sellers Affiliation (NFDA) chief govt Sue Robinson led the tributes to the previous retail group boss and AM Awards decide after he died final week.

Robinson took to social media to share the “very unhappy information” of Rourke’s dying after paying tribute to him within the NDFA’s publication The Voice, describing him as “at all times a really vibrant character” in dialog with AM.

Rourke was extremely revered with a wealth of expertise within the motor business.

Along with Dutton Forshaw, he has additionally been chief govt of Inchcape Motors Worldwide, overseeing its non-Toyota actions worldwide, and vice-president gross sales Europe for the Chrysler and Jeep manufacturers whereas they have been underneath DaimlerChrysler possession.

Rourke left Dutton Forshaw in 2007 after the retail group was purchased by Lookers, from Lloyds TSB Asset Finance Division, for £60 million in money.

That transfer got here two years after an AM perception characteristic on the enterprise and 4 years after Lloyds TSB Asset Finance had acquired the group – then listed at No 18 within the AM100 – for a money consideration of £48.7m.

Dutton Forshaw had generated gross sales of £431m within the monetary yr to December 31, 2006, reported an working revenue of £3m and had gross property of £129m.

Rourke later arrange Ateco UK, which is in talks with Chinese language producers about importing their vehicles, and have become an govt member of the NFDA.