Unipart Group announced the retirement of its Founder and Executive Chairman, Dr John M. Neill CBE, after an illustrious career in manufacturing spanning five decades.

John Neill’s journey began with General Motors, where he became the youngest overseas executive. In 1974, he joined British Leyland, and by 1977, at the age of 29, he had been appointed Managing Director of the British Leyland Parts Division, making him the youngest MD to lead the company’s most profitable business. In 1987, John took on the role of Group Chief Executive at Unipart and later assumed the position of Chairman and Chief Executive in 2012.

Stephen Phipson, CEO of Make UK paid tribute to Dr Neill’s 50 years of service to the sector.

He said: “On behalf of everyone at Make UK, I wish to offer my deepest congratulations to John Neill upon his retirement, after 50 years of service to the UK manufacturing sector as Chairman and founder of Unipart.

John is one of the great British industrialists and has been a valued member of Make UK, and previously EEF, for many years, playing an active role in the development of our organisation in the 1990s. 

I wish him a happy and fulfilling retirement, and I’ve no doubt that he’ll remain a close friend to, and champion of, our sector for the years to come.”
Read the full Unipart press release here: John Neill announces retirement as Unipart Chairman.