AM Live Inspiration Theatre

Delegates to this year’s AM Live will come away from the event inspired with electrifying presentations including one session on leading teams through change from automotive adventurer Kevin Gaskell.

Gaskell is one of the headline speakers already confirmed for the Inspiration Theatre at AM Live, which takes place at the NEC, near Birmingham on November 11.

The Covid-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented and unique challenges to businesses across the world, with automotive retailers needing to shut showrooms, furlough staff and ramp back up as the market bounces back.

Gaskell has worked as chief executive at four successful world class brands and as a serial entrepreneur has built international companies from ‘a good idea’ to create over £3 billion in shareholder value.

He has also still found time to climb the world’s highest mountains, walk to both North and South Poles, as well as compete in international sport and play in a rock band.

Gaskell said: “The reality of the Covid-19 pandemic has been terrible and terrifying and should not be minimised.

"But eventually it too will pass. The economy will recover and great businesses will be built or rebuilt.

"My experience of leading companies through the economic disaster zone is that, with different thinking, it is possible to emerge stronger than ever.

"During the most difficult of times the most able leaders will reassess and clarify the vision of success for the organisation.

T"hey will challenge and redefine the business model and prepare their team for long term success. Great leaders will step ahead.”

Smashing the electric vehicle transition

The Inspiration Theatre will also feature a keynote presentation focussing on one of the biggest topics on retailers and vehicle manufacturers’ agendas - electric vehicles.

Arturs Smilkstins, partner at Boston Consulting, will deliver a session that will inspire and advise dealers of the opportunities presented by the roadmap to zero emission new cars before 2030.

The dealers that smash the EV transition will have well-informed and engaged workforces, will adapt and innovate their services to attract and retain customers, and by 2030 will have established their brand as a centre of EV excellence.

Smilkstins has worked with global clients in Russia, Eastern and Western Europe, the Middle East, and Asia and currently works at Boston Consulting’s London office.
His focus within automotive and mobility includes OEMs, suppliers, retail dealers, and mobility providers.

He works with his clients on executing turnarounds, setting up and implementing digital and organizational transformations, and driving operational improvements with Industry 4.0 tools.

The Inspiration Theatre will be available in addition to multiple Operational Excellence seminar sessions across the day, with expert sessions focussing on changing consumer behaviour in the face of the pandemic, the latest best practice on digital marketing, omni-channel retailing and much more.

Registrations for AM Live are open now and are free to automotive retail professionals. For more information and to book your place visit automotivemanagementlive.co.uk