Board advisor for strategic OEM partnerships
Former McLaren, Jaguar Land Rover, Aston Martin and Vauxhall executive Andy West has been appointed by service and maintenance plan provider RAMP as a board advisor for strategic OEM partnerships.
At RAMP, West will focus on developing relationships with OEMs and franchised dealer groups, helping the business build its development strategy and go-to-market plans as it scales.
RAMP, the Repair And Maintenance Plan business owned by Cambria Ventures, has a strategy to expand adoption of maintenance plans across the motor retail sector to secure repeat custom for franchised dealer networks.
West said: “There is a significant opportunity for OEMs and dealer groups to use maintenance plans to build a stronger relationship with customers throughout the ownership cycle. The principle is straightforward. Customers pay towards future maintenance in advance, giving them peace of mind over costs while helping the dealer keep that relationship active.
"It is similar to the model that has become established in sectors such as dentistry through Denplan."
Paying in advance for future vehicle maintenance
He added that just as automotive products such as GAP and PCP have developed from relatively new concepts into established parts of the customer proposition, maintenance plans have the potential to build similar momentum as more OEMs and dealers understand how they work and the benefits they can deliver.
“RAMP is already a well-established business. My role is to use the relationships and experience I have built across the OEM sector to help take it to the next level," West added.
His career includes roles as Vauxhall's network development director and aftersales director, global aftersales and customer service director at McLaren Automotive, global aftersales, client services and dealer training director at Aston Martin Lagonda and customer service director at Jaguar Land Rover.
Unlike an insurance product, RAMP’s maintenance plans are designed around customers paying in advance for future vehicle maintenance. This provides dealers with a simpler proposition without the use of insurance backed products.
Amanda Massey, managing director of RAMP, said: “As we scale the business, we want to work with more manufacturers and franchised dealer groups that recognise the value of maintaining a relationship with the customer beyond the vehicle sale.
"Andy’s OEM relationships, commercial experience and understanding of how to develop and bring new propositions to market will be important as we accelerate that strategy. His appointment strengthens the senior team and gives us additional capability to turn the opportunity we see in the market into sustainable growth.”