Lexus Edgware General Manager wins Retail Sales Category in Autocar Great British Women Awards

• Diana Mackinnon earns top Autocar accolade in Retail Sales category of the Great British Women Awards
• An additional Lexus retailer named in Top 100 list of the most influential women in the British motoring industry 2018
• Awards ceremony and panel discussions light up London’s Barbican Centre

Autocar has named Diana Mackinnon, General Manager of Lexus Edgware, as one of the most influential British woman working in the motor industry at its annual Great British Women in the Car Industry event, held in association with the SMMT.

Mackinnon overcame strong competition and received the Retail Sales category award at a star-studded event on Wednesday at the Barbican Centre in London.  She commented: “I was touched when my senior managers said they wanted to put me forward for the award and I am honoured to be recognised in this way.  However, I know I wouldn’t be here without the support and hard work of my dedicated team, so this is just as much about them as it is me. Only in recent years has the feeling of being a female in a male dominated industry become apparent to me, and I appreciate the fact that my employers, Jemca Car Group, encourage all employees, including women, to reach their full potential.  Women drive and own cars and are also massively influential when it comes to helping partners choose their car, so we do need more of us at the coalface and in boardrooms. I would love to see even more women in sales, service reception and the workshop. I am massively passionate about my job, the industry and the Lexus brand; it has been a hugely rewarding career so far and I am looking forward to the next stage.”

In addition to Diana’s win, another Lexus Centre Principal had the honour of being selected in the Top 100 most influential women in the British motoring industry: Nahide Crisp, Centre Principal at Hills Motor Group Lexus, Woodford Green, Essex.

The Great British Women in the Car Industry’s 100-strong ‘power-list’ looks to celebrate success and encourage more women into the car industry at all levels and in all sectors, from purchasing to product development.

Autocar editor Mark Tisshaw added: “While there are certainly challenges in the car industry, it’s heartening to see such a wealth of outstanding British women thriving in an array of roles and in the most senior positions.

“There is plenty of work to be done but, by highlighting the considerable impact of these women, we hope we can inspire more women into our amazing automotive world.”

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to be involved with this fantastic event again this year, celebrating the many achievements of the top 100 British women in the car industry. Issues of inequality are rightly in the headlines at the moment, highlighting the challenges that remain in ensuring everyone has equal treatment and equal opportunity. The motor industry has improved gradually but still has a long way to go and the women we celebrate today are often role models who have prospered in what is a highly competitive environment. We hope that in years to come, more and more women will follow in the footsteps of the top 100 and help the sector be truly representative of society and the customer base we serve.”

The event, organised by Autocar in association with the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), is backed by Toyota, BMW, Ford, Jaguar Land Rover, MINI and Nissan.

It featured keynote speeches from Jackson and Olympic-hockey great Karen Brown, as well as a discussion panel filled with a wealth of high-profile leaders including Paula Cooper, Director Consumer One Toyota GB PLC, and moderated by the chair of the Great British Women judging panel, Rachael Prasher, managing director of Haymarket Automotive, which publishes Autocar.

You can view the full list of the top 100 by visiting: https://www.autocar.co.uk/greatbritishwomen/2018

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ENDS