Industry & Services >> CEO Interviews >> February 8, 1999
CHRIS SWAN is CEO of Finelist Group plc. He grew up in Kenilworth,
Warwickshire, one of three boys. After getting 12 O-levels he turned
down an offer to read maths at Bath University in order to join Halfords
as a management trainee. At the age of only 19 he was made branch
manager. He left soon after his promotion to join Brown Brothers, a car-
parts distributor, as salesman, and worked his way up to district
manager. In 1983, aged 26, he joined Partco, a competitor, as Southeast
regional manager. Partco was sold to the management in 1986 and three
year's later he left to join Autela Components as operations manager.
BBA, the holding company sold Autela and Chris was part of this MBO.
Recognising the tremendous opportunities the changing and dynamic
marketplace presented, Chris led a second MBO of Autela and this is
where the Finelist story begins. Using an off-the-shelf company
'Finelist', Chris continued to grow the Autela business. In February
1994 the company gained full listing, valuing it a L28 million and five
months later it bought its closest rival Edmunds Walker for L19 million.
Twice the size of the existing business, Edmunds Walker was losing in
the region of two million pounds per year. By working with the existing
management team and refocusing the business, Chris took Edmunds Walker
into profit within two years. Highly motivated and visionary, Chris led
Finelist into a new dimension in 1996 with the acquisition of leading
retailer Motor World. Expansion and growth plans continued during 1997
with Finelist adding Ferraris Piston Service. (GAA010)(12892) Profile
today?
Mr. Swan: Finelist is the largest of its type involved in the automotive
aftermarket in the U.K. We've got 800
