Top boss who headed up Porsche GB to speak at our conference

KEVIN Gaskell will be one of the headline speakers at our annual conference next month (January 25-28, 2015).

The businessman and entrepreneur who ran Porsche GB Limited in the early 1990s will present to the conference at the De Vere Carden Park in Chester on the Tuesday, January 27.

Kevin is an energetic and passionate leader with a proven record of managing growth, driving successful turnarounds and delivering substantial improvements in companies already considered to be market leaders.

Recognised as one of the most capable managers of his generation he qualified as an engineer and accountant. He completed an MBA before starting his career in the construction sector before moving into the chemical industry and then to the automotive sector.

In 1987 he joined Porsche GB Limited and four years later, at the age of 32, was appointed UK Managing Director. He later went on to become a dot com entrepreneur.

Kevin ensured Porsche GB became one the UK’s most profitable car companies. He went on to become Managing Director at BMW (GB) Ltd where he formed a team who challenged themselves to develop the business. This led to four years of record growth where sales improved by 40% and profitability increased by 250%.

He has also trekked to the North and South Poles to raise money for Cancer Research.

On the Tuesday Roger Martin-Fagg, a renowned economist turned strategist, will also be speaking at the event. He presents at conferences around the world on the economic outlook and its impact on business. His quarterly economic update is sent to 1200 SME’s.

It’s not too late to book for our conference, so if you are hoping to attend, please visit the members’ section of our website via www.gca.org.uk to book your place.

With a new venue, a great line-up of speakers and plenty of opportunities to catch up with old friends from the industry, the conference is set to be a fantastic event.

   

Our conference kicks off on Sunday, January 25 with an afternoon of fundraising activities for the charity Greenfingers. Two teams will go head-to-head to battle it out for the Greenfingers Challenge Cup.

Monday’s (January 26) part of the conference will focus on the operational side of our industry and will include talks from a range of inspiring and engaging business speakers to help motivate us for the year ahead.

During the day on Tuesday (January 27) there will be more of a focus on the strategic element of business, with opportunities to listen to some inspirational speakers and a chance to experience the associate’s exhibition.

Scotts and Westland Horticulture are our headline sponsors and David Thomas, who broke the world record for reciting the maths formula Pi (3.14..) to 22,500 digits will be attending. He will speak about techniques for improving memory at the conference on Monday, January 26.

  

Professor Greg Whyte OBE, who has helped celebrities complete various physical challenges, will be sharing his secrets on achieving the seemingly impossible at our conference too.

He has led 18 celebrity Comic Relief challenges, which have raised more than £33 million for the charity.

Professor Whyte, who is an advisor to the Benetton and Renault Formula 1 Teams and several Premiership football clubs, will also be speaking on Monday, January 26.