Home Appointments & Contracts New Managing Director for Yorkshire Automotive Retailer

New Managing Director for Yorkshire Automotive Retailer

Richard Hargraves, managing director at JCT600

JCT600, one of Yorkshire’s largest privately owned businesses, has promoted operations director Richard Hargraves to the position of managing director based at its Bradford head office.

Having started his career in the motor industry as a parts trainee, Richard moved into sales, working for a number of leading car brands. He joined JCT600 in 1999 as a used car buyer and was promoted to sales manager within 18 months. Five years later, Richard, aged 29, became BMW general manager, one of the youngest in the BMW network at the time.

After a five year spell with another business, in 2006 Richard was appointed as JCT600 brand director, responsible for the three Porsche Centres in Leeds, Newcastle and Sheffield, as well as the company’s Bentley dealerships in Leeds and Newcastle and its BMW/MINI dealership in Bradford.

In 2012, Richard was promoted to operations director, subsequently taking responsibility for all of the company’s brands – the group represents 22 of the world’s leading car marques including Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, Ferrari, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lotus, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Rolls-Royce and Volkswagen.


In his new role as managing director, Richard will work closely with chief executive John Tordoff, supporting the operations board in managing the group’s 48 dealerships from Yorkshire and the North East to Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.

“With over 30 years’ experience in the motor industry, Richard has a wealth of knowledge and has played a key role in our continued growth. As a company that prides itself on nurturing and developing its team, he is a great role model for colleagues as he has risen through the ranks and understands the business inside out,” comments John Tordoff, chief executive.

“Working as a member of our four-strong main board, Richard’s new role will further strengthen the management of the business as we continue to evolve and build on our position as one of the most successful motor groups in the UK.”

Richard Hargraves comments: “I am really excited about my new role and look forward to working with our hugely experienced team of directors and talented colleagues throughout the business. My aim is to ensure that we remain one of the most respected and trusted names in the sector as we continue to evolve our retail model in line with customers’ needs in order to deliver the first class experience they have come to expect.”

Founded in 1946 as Brooklands Garage on Sticker Lane, Bradford, by current chairman Jack Tordoff, JCT600 remains a family business.