DR JOHN M NEILL CBE BA, MBA, DBA, FCIM, FCIPS
CHAIRMAN AND GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE
UNIPART GROUP
John Neill joined Unipart from General Motors in 1974 and set out to establish a more
independent and broadly based role for what was then British Leyland's Parts Division, by
building the Unipart All Makes range and establishing the Unipart Brand as Britain's best
known brand for all makes of high quality Automotive Components.
In 1987, he led the successful management buyout of the Company and began the process of
changing not only the culture of the Company, but also the whole philosophy by which the
Business was run. The Company is operated by a stakeholder management philosophy with
almost half the business owned by Managers and employees. The Company has set out to be
World Class in terms of its operational performance and is listed as one of the top ten largest
private companies in the UK.
John Neill's other interests include Business in the Community, where he is a member of the
Council and Board as well as being a Non-Executive Director of Rolls-Royce plc. He was
also formerly a Director of the Bank of England and a Non-Executive Director of the Royal
Mail and Charter International plc.
John was appointed Prince’s Ambassador for the South East for 2009 by HRH The Prince of
Wales.
He is Vice President of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders as well as a Director
of the SMMT Industry Forum. John is Vice-President of The Institute of the Motor Industry
and a council member of the Institute of Directors. John is also a Vice-President of BEN.
John Neill was educated at George Heriot=s School, Edinburgh and the University of
Strathclyde where he gained a Bachelor of Arts Degree and then a Masters Degree in
Business Administration.
In July 2012, he was awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of the University by
Strathclyde.
He has also been awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration from Oxford
Brookes University, Middlesex University and De Montfort University.
John is a Vice President and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and an Honorary
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply.
John is married to Jackie and they have two sons, Richard and Alexander. His interests
include tennis, skiing and motorsports.