IMI Annual Dinner celebrates industry heroes and launches campaigns for change

The Annual Institute of Motor Industry Dinner (6th March 2019) saw industry heroes celebrated and the professional body’s goals for supporting the motor retail sector for the future laid out. Taking place just days before International Women’s Day, it was fitting that women took centre stage at the event.

Linda Jackson, Global CEO of Citroën was made a lifetime member of the IMI, receiving an Honorary Fellowship following her receipt of the Sue Brownson Award for Industry Achievement in 2018. The highest accolade the IMI can bestow on an individual within the automotive industry, Linda Jackson joins an elite group of industry influencers.

Catherine Treanor of Electude collected the Contribution to the IMI Award in recognition of her dedication to the IMI. 

Richard Parry-Jones, CBE was received the Sue Brownson Award for Industry achievement.

Other Award winners on the night were:

IMI Recognition Awards:

• Contribution To The Motor Industry – Sandy Burgess
• Contribution To work of the IMI – Highly Commended – Sandy Bruce
• Outstanding Individual Achievement – Highly Commended  – Andrew Livesey
• Outstanding Individual Achievement – Tom Maunder

IMI Key contact of the Year – Robert Oldale AMIMI Lancashire MA

Two Honorary Fellowship Awards: Rolf Lucas-Nuelle from Lucas-Nuelle, and Linda Jackson from Citroën Brand at Groupe PSA.

The evening, attended by IMI Patron, His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent GCVO, FIMI, also provided the forum for Steve Nash, Chief Executive of the IMI to set out professional body’s goals outlined in the new strategy document, ‘Campaigns for Change’. 

Focusing on the key areas where the Institute feels it can best assist individuals and businesses in addressing the multitude of challenges facing the sector in a period of unprecedented change, ‘Campaigns for Change’ is based on broad industry feedback from IMI members and from employers generally about the key challenges they face.

After Dinner Speaker and rugby legend, Lawrence Dallaglio wrapped up the evening’s event in a Q&A session with Steve Nash.

Steve Nash, Chief Executive at the IMI, said:
“The 2019 Annual Dinner provided an excellent forum to celebrate the high achievers in our sector as well as help the industry see the strategies the IMI will be employing to ensure employers and individuals are best equipped for the changing face of motoring.  And it was particularly exciting to see the diversity goals championed by so many in our marketplace recognised in the Awards for Linda Jackson and Cat Treanor.”