Kym Smith

I am a dynamic individual with over a decade of experience building and nurturing strategic alliances, managing and enhancing brand visibility through cross-functional teams and delivering results through collaboration and innovation.

I love being at the heart of the business, liaising with every element and department empowers me to achieve the objectives of the business. Whether it’s delivering excellence with the teams I lead, building relationships with the suppliers that I work with, or offering unparalleled support to the customers I work for, I crave the overall perspective of a business to help me perform at my best.

A1 Automotive Group, Hinckley, Leicester
Jan 2015 - Present
A1 Automotive Group is a unique cooperative enterprise owned by a consortium of "members", comprising of independent businesses within the Automotive Aftermarket sector with an annual turnover exceeding £250 million. Entrusted with the responsibility to spearhead the development and integration of new products and partnerships, my role aims to position the group as a pioneering entity within our industry.

Operating within a framework that encourages creativity while upholding a foundation of rigorous research for every task, assignment, or objective, I recognize the essential work ethic, mindset, and enthusiasm necessary to unite a team towards achieving the organisation's goals.

Reporting to the Managing Director and the group's co-opted directors, overseeing a team of over 30 staff members across three departments, and fostering strong relationships with more than 200 supply partners and 370 members, my commitment lies in delivering significance, professionalism, and mentorship to all stakeholders.

A1 Automotive Group specialises in the distribution and “factoring” of automotive parts to garages within the Automotive Aftermarket sector, managed by a procurement and deliveries team that reports directly to me. The procurement process revolves around three strategic pillars: brand, competitiveness, accessibility.

As leaders in our industry, I am targeted with onboarding on the very best Original Equipment brands, at the most commercially competitive price, whilst making them as easily accessible to our group as possible.

The focal point for the business is through our partnerships, creating a platform for global brands to distribute and market their products through our group. Account managing portfolios with key stakeholders, meeting their requirements and demands alongside our own customers', all whilst growing sales through improved terms, rebates and marketing drives.

The partnerships I have introduced to the group and continue to manage relationships with, consist of some of the most globally revered names in the automotive world such as; Continental, Castrol, Denso, Febi Bilstein, Hella, Liqui Moly, Robert Bosch and Valeo, generating tens of millions of pounds worth of revenue each year for the group.

The crux of my success ultimately hinges on understanding our partners' products, their vision, brand positioning in the market, and strategically aligning with their KPIs and our own. With a vast array of products circulating within the group at any given time, establishing robust ties with suppliers becomes imperative, enabling strategic success within the group.

John Cleveland College & Sixth Form

Hinckley, Leicestershire - 04-08

8 GCSE’s - A-C

A-Level Economics - A

A-Level French - B

A-Level English - A