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Caffyns History
 
Chapter 1
1865-1904
 
Chapter 2
1905-1918
 
Chapter 3
1919-1938
 
Chapter 4
1939-1945
 
Chapter 5
1946-1979
 
Chapter 6
The 1980's
 
Chapter 7
The 1990's
 
Chapter 8
The Millennium
 
Chapter 9
The Start of the next 100 years
 
Staff Activities
 
Caffyns and the community
 
Acknowledgements
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   

Chapter 8      The Millennium   

 

INTO THE NEXT MILLENNIUM

On 1st June 2000, Robert Caffyn retired from his position as Finance Director and Company Secretary to become a non Executive Director. Mark Harrison then joined the Company and was appointed Finance Director. Mark, a Chartered Accountant, was formerly finance director of two other quoted companies. Robert Caffyn's daughter, Sarah, was appointed Company Secretary.

During the following year, after 40 years of service, joint Managing Director Anthony Caffyn retired but remained as a consultant to the Company.

European rulings continued to change the ways in which cars would be built, sold, serviced, repaired and disposed of at the end of their life. To meet the new challenges of the twenty-first century Caffyns continued throughout the Company to invest in best communication and management systems, staff training and procedures for component and waste product re-cycling. Major redevelopment and refurbishment of existing branches, the acquisition of new ones and expanding with successful franchises was to become a continuous programme over the next few years.

In February 2001 Caffyns acquired Eastbourne Volvo dealership Ridley's and became one of the first dealer groups in the country to represent Ford's Premier Automotive Group franchises of Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo for a marketing territory. In 2002 the Rev'd Douglas Caffyn retired after 25 years with the Company. As Pension Fund Secretary throughout that time he also spent many years in charge of Company properties and their maintainance.

Eastbourne Volkswagen dealer, Skinners, was purchased by Caffyns in 2002 and in the same year the Company recorded record profits.

In 2003, the 100th anniversary of Caffyns' involvement with the motor car, the Hailsham branch of Lindbrook Audi was purchased making this the second Audi dealership within the Caffyns portfolio. Simultaneously land was purchased in Eastbourne to build an all new state-of-the-art Audi Centre for the region. Daewoo was added to the MG Rover franchises at Eastbourne Upperton Road and Ramsgate and the Tunbridge Wells MG Rover operation was transferred to the Tonbridge branch, the St Johns Road site being sold.

During the same year Alan Caffyn retired as Chairman and became Honorary President. Brian Carte, who first joined Caffyns as a Non-Executive Director in 1996, was appointed Chairman. Brian had previously held the positions of Chief Executive of Lombard North Central, Managing Director of National Westminster Insurances Services Limited and Deputy Chairman of First National Bank plc.

Sarah Caffyn was appointed to the main board as a Director. Her new role being Human Resources Director and Company Secretary

2004 saw Caffyns purchase the Tunbridge Wells Vauxhall dealership from Pipers Engineering, making this the Company's fifth Vauxhall branch. Two months later Advent Volkswagen at Hove was purchased followed by QAS Skoda, also at Tunbridge Wells.

The year continued with major redevelopment being completed at Eastbourne Volkswagen and Haywards Heath Volkswagen. Refurbishment work commenced at Tunbridge Wells Vauxhall including extensive work to the showrooms, workshop, fast-fit bays, parts department and bodyshop. Building of the new Audi Centre in Willingdon Drove, Eastbourne commenced and plans were underway to re-franchise some other existing branches.

Brian Birkenhead and Andrew Goodburn joined the Company as main board Non-Executive Directors. Brian currently holds non executive appointments with Itnet plc, Cubitt Consulting Ltd and Hermes Fund Managers plc acid is also a Trustee of the BT pension scheme. Previously he was the Group Finance Director of National Power plc and later chairman of the Hundred Group of Finance Directors. Andrew, Finance Director at Ricardo plc had previously filled commercial roles within the Bowthorpe Group.

2005 was to become a year of many changes starting with the transfer of the MG Rover franchise from Sovereign Way Tonbridge to part of the Lamberts Road site. Tonbridge became a Vauxhall outlet offering new and used car sales and servicing.

Caffyns branches were re-grouped into three regions, each with their own Regional Director and in view of the current and future growth of the Company's commitment to the Audi, Volkswagen and Vauxhall franchises, three Franchise Managers were also appointed to each take care of one of these marques.

For almost 100 years Caffyns had maintained a close association with MG Rover and its forebears. During April 2005 the Longbridge based manufacturer MG Rover was placed into administration and car production permanently ceased. Caffyns acted quickly, immediately offering to honour all warranty work for customers whose vehicles would no longer be covered by the manufacturer's warranty. The facility for servicing, repairs and parts continued to be available for owners of MG and Rover vehicles.

The re-franchising and refurbishing of MG Rover branches began quickly with Preston Road, Brighton gaining Vauxhall, Broadwater Road, Worthing changing to Audi, Upperton Road, Eastbourne becoming Nissan and Uckfield taking on Citroen. Chevrolet joined Vauxhall at Tunbridge Wells and the existing Land Rover facility at Lewes expanded into the site previously occupied by the MG Rover branch. Unfortunately, Ramsgate and Seaford branches were closed however most of the staff were relocated to other branches within the Company.

Elsewhere, refurbishment and updates were undertaken at the Ford branches in Alton and Haslemere, the Vauxhall sites at Ashford and Folkestone, Skoda at Ashford and Tunbridge Wells and Chrysler jeep site at Hailsham. Also Volkswagen and Volvo branches were acquired in Portslade to cover the Brighton area.

 

 

 

 
         

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