New Industry Forum Chief Executive Officer

Tuesday 8 February, 2023

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ashley Fernihough as the new Chief Executive Officer of SMMT Industry Forum, the automotive industry’s competitiveness improvement and training business.

Fernihough, who has had an extensive career in the automotive sector, takes over from Richard Sadler who leaves Industry Forum after three years, during which time he built strong relationships with customers and partners, particularly in automotive, and successfully grew the business following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Beginning his lifelong automotive career as an engineering apprentice, Fernihough has amassed more than 40 years of experience in management and consultancy roles covering almost every area of the industry. He has a track record of delivering successful business transformation programmes, with global leadership positions at companies including Jaguar Land Rover, Ricardo, and IBM.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said,

I would like to welcome Ashley to SMMT and to SMMT Industry Forum. As the automotive sector forges a once-in-a-century transition, Ashley’s background in transformational growth makes him ideally placed to ensure SMMT Industry Forum helps automotive companies future-proof their businesses through improved skills, productivity and competitiveness.

Ashley Fernihough said,

I am delighted to be joining Industry Forum and look forward to building on the great work of the team. People, productivity and profitability are my passions and what SMMT Industry Forum is all about, so leading this growth-focused organisation at such a defining time for the automotive sector is an exciting prospect.

Industry Forum was established by SMMT, vehicle manufacturers and government to improve the competitiveness of UK manufacturing. It can call on more than 150 cross-sector industry specialists and has been active in 30 countries. Over the past two decades, it has delivered more than 400 competitiveness and productivity programmes and trained more than 25,000 people across a range of manufacturing sectors, including aerospace, automotive and other diverse industries.