Chairman & Managing Director of North East Truck and Van awarded Lifetime Achievement Award
A leading industry publication has recognised the Chairman & Managing Director of North East Truck and Van for his dedication to the automotive industry. As part of the recent Transport News Breakfast Rewards, held at the Tip-Ex convention in Harrogate today, Sandy McDonald received the Industry Lifetime Achievement Award.
Sandy joined North East DAF Trucks as it was then called in September 1987 in the position of Financial Controller. At that time the Company operated from two depots, Billingham and Blaydon. The Company would change its name to North East Truck & Van in 1993 following the demise of Leyland DAF and the Company quickly transitioned to represent instead the IVECO brand.
Sandy progressed through the company taking on the role of Finance Director and eventually becoming Managing Director in 1992. By this time he was also a shareholder of the Company, finally purchasing the remaining shares and becoming the majority shareholder in 2002. The Company gradually expanded its operations during Sandy’s leadership to where we see it today operating from seven sites, with multi-brand offerings in both truck and van product.
Under his tenure the Company won IVECO’s Aftersales Dealer of the Year award six years in succession as well as being awarded for the second time Motor Transport’s prestigious Dealer of the Year award in 2005 - a unique achievement in the industry.
Additionally, Sandy held the position of IVECO Dealer Chairman for nine successive years and was the first UK Chairman to be invited to join the European IVECO Dealer Association.
Sandy has always been proud of the quality loyalty and professionalism of the NETV team with over 23% of the current workforce being employed by the Company for over 20 years.
Today represents a further milestone for Sandy as after 30 years at the helm he now hands over the position of Managing Director to his son John, who has been with the Company since 2014. He remains in role as Chairman guiding and mentoring the Company in to its future.
Speaking about his lifetime achievement award, Sandy said “I feel very honoured to be presented with the Industry Lifetime Achievement Award by Transport News at the recent Breakfast Rewards event. It is very special to be recognised in this way by my industry peers”. He added “It has been a challenging time recently for the sector and our business has been no exception. The team across North East Truck and Van has pulled together and supported each other. In turn, continuing to meet the demands of each of our customers”.