Business News

MORGAN MOTOR COMPANY ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO ITS LEADERSHIP TEAM

To help build on recent successes and future-proof the marque, the Morgan Motor Company is delighted to be strengthening its leadership team with the appointment of Steve Morris to Executive Chairman and Massimo Fumarola as Chief Executive Officer from 26 April 2022.

Steve, who is entering his 40th year with the company, will be working alongside Massimo, who joins from Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. where he was Chief Project Management Officer and a member of the Management Board. Massimo’s arrival comes at a key strategic time for Morgan, the company have recently revealed the all-new Super 3, and are actively looking towards the future. Morgan’s focus is upon realising the growth set out in the business plan along with developing products that are appealing to its customers and compliant with future legislative standards. Steve’s new role remains full time, with the wider management team reporting to Massimo. Massimo and Steve will be jointly responsible for business objectives and will, alongside the Morgan management team, develop the business plan for 2023 and beyond. Things have never stood still at Morgan, the business will continue to evolve, exciting and delighting its customers and admirers as it has for 113 years. Steve Morris, Executive Chairman of Morgan Motor Company, commented “This is an extremely important appointment for the Morgan Motor Company. Massimo joins Morgan at a time when it is perfectly primed and positioned for future growth and further success. Therefore, it’s crucial that we have found someone of Massimo’s calibre, passion, and experience to work alongside me to help further cement the company’s recognition as one of the world’s most iconic sports car brands.” “On a personal note, I feel incredibly proud to be entering my 40th year at the company as Executive Chairman. To have led a team at Morgan that is, without doubt, the driving force behind many of Morgan’s notable successes is incredibly satisfying. Managing change is an important aspect of business leadership, I have established an ethos and ability for Morgan to embrace change and identify opportunity. This has become one of the inimitable traits of Morgan, one that gives Morgan the capability to adapt and prosper. I am excited to work with Massimo for many years to come and to see the company reach even greater heights of success, underpinned by passion, soul, heritage, and distinctive products.” Massimo Fumarola, Chief Executive Officer, Morgan Motor Company, also commented “Morgan Motor Company has a unique reputation for its rich heritage, distinctive styling, and superlative craftsmanship. As a sports car enthusiast, it’s an enormous honour to join such an iconic brand as CEO and work together with Steve to help amplify everything the company stands for. When I was a young boy, our neighbour had a Morgan, and I dreamt of driving a Morgan myself one day. For me, a Morgan is the best combination of pure vehicle dynamics, light-weight design, driving pleasure, quality refinement, functional design, and courageous engineering. Morgan sports cars are not about performances, they are about a truly authentic, unconventional and exhilarating driving experience. They stand for joy, freedom, individuality, self-confidence and aspirational lifestyle. Morgan has a timeless value proposition to ensure a best sensory customer engagement. I look forward to working together with the team and with our dealers to promote this unique brand globally”.

WORCESTER BASED BUSINESS NAMED THE BEST TRAVEL AGENCY IN THE UK & IRELAND

A high street agency in Worcestershire has recently taken the title of best travel agency in the UK and Ireland at the seventh annual TTG’s Top 50 ceremony in Birmingham. arrangeMY escape, Worcester was selected for this prestigious title as part of a power-list of the nation’s best agents by industry bible, Travel Trade Gazette. An independent, family-run travel business, the agency was selected from amongst 500 travel agencies and branches for the title, following a visit from a TTG journalist at the start of the year. The business’ customer service, expertise, performance, and efforts to give back to the local community were all assessed as part of the awards process. The team were recognised for their innovative communication methods and technological advancements, particularly during the pandemic. Podcasts, GoPro and Loom videos were some of the innovative and informative methods of communication providing a more personalised and supportive approach. Adapting quickly to customer demands, arrangeMY escape introduced at-home visits as soon as it was possible, for those who still felt concerned about the pandemic. This is something that is still being offered, due to its success. Jennifer Lynch, arrangeMY escape general manager, commented: “I am beyond proud; the team have worked incredibly hard to build a solid community focused travel agency and to have this recognised by such a prestigious award is testament to our continued commitment. “There has been much uncertainty surrounding our industry at the moment. Coronavirus has affected each and every business associated in travel, including our own. Travel agents are often forgotten about in this crisis, working long hours to make sure customers are looked after. “However, there are positive signs and this brings us hope that we will become stronger, along with renewed confidence in booking with arrangeMY escape, and this award reinforcing our values.” As well as this prestigious accolade, arrangeMY escape was also awarded ‘best regional agency’ in central England. Opening in 2017, despite the pandemic, the travel agency has had success year on year, being named as a finalist in the same awards in 2020, winning customer service awards with Worcester BID in 2018 and then a member of the team scooping ‘travel agent of the year UK & Ireland in 2019. Jennifer added: “We are thankful to our loyal customers, suppliers and local businesses for their support over the last two years. We have been welcomed into the heart of Worcestershire and we cannot wait to share our good news.” To find out more about arrangeMY escape, visit www.arrangemyescape.com or call 01905 675015.

THE PRINCESS ROYAL VISITS PERSHORE COLLEGE STUDENTS AT MAJOR SHOW

The Princess Royal stopped by to speak with staff and students from a local college as they showcased their Commonwealth and environmental themed garden at a major show.

The Queen’s only daughter visited the garden created by supported learning students from Pershore College during the RHS Malvern Spring Festival. Princess Anne spent time at the garden to find out about its inspiration, environmental credentials and the work the students had put in to create it. A group of 90 students created the garden, which was entered into the School Garden Challenge at the event and came away as highly commended. The four-metre squared plot included themed bunting made by the students and a model of the Queen’s royal train, which travelled around the edge of the raised beds. The garden was also carbon-negative. Catering students created a special cream tea for the unveiling of the garden including home baked scones and jam made using fruits grown at the college. Louise Badham, Head of Department for Supported Learning, Re-Engagement and Schools (Worcestershire) at WCG, said: “We were actually on-air giving a live radio interview at the time, and then we noticed that Her Royal Highness was approaching our garden! “The Princess Royal showed a real interest in the garden and asked us about the Commonwealth link, the plants in it and then we also spoke with her about the work the students had done in the creation process. “It was a fantastic day and we had some tremendous feedback on the garden. To be awarded highly commended was wonderful; the RHS judges said they really liked it because it was the kind of garden that could be at anyone’s home. To find out more about supported learning courses at Pershore College visit wcg.ac.uk/study.

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