MANUFACTURING


ANDY PALMER began his career as an apprentice at UK Automotive Products in 1979 – a chaotic time for the British car industry, which had become a byword for poor industrial relations and product quality. After a stint with Rover, he spent 23 years with Nissan, where he learnt the Japanese formula for successful motor manufacturing. In 2014 Palmer joined Aston Martin and set about restoring the ailing firm’s fortunes. In 2017, after eight successive loss- making years, it posted a pre-tax profit of £87 million. Later this year Aston Martin will launch the DBX – its first sport-utility vehicle – which Palmer hopes will be particularly appealing to female drivers. His long-term goal is to turn the business into a luxury goods brand. Last year he set up the Palmer Foundation, which will train young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to become engineers. He also chairs the Productivity and Skills Commission of the West Midlands Combined Authority.


Andy Palmer won the Dr Neville Bain Memorial Award for Excellence in Director and Board Practice at the 2018 IoD Director of the Year Awards. For information about this year’s competition, visit iodawards.com


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