Leader in UK Public Affairs: Robert Forrester, Chief Executive, Vertu Motors plc, “Leaders need to cast a vision and hold people accountable”

Mace | 6th August 2026 | In-House Public Affairs, Westminster Index

Robert Forrester reflects on his achievement in helping to found a company 20 years ago that now generates £5bn in revenue and employs more than 7,500 people.

“It has become a natural extension of my role… due to necessity,” says Robert Forrester. “I am a bit shocked to find myself in public affairs.” After nearly two decades as CEO of a publicly listed automotive retailer, advocacy was not a career move but an operational reality — one that emerged as policy began to shape the industry more directly.

That perspective is important. Forrester does not approach public affairs as a discipline in its own right, but as something embedded within leadership. “It is a key part of my CEO role to change Government policy and quickly,” he says — a line that captures both urgency and intent.

Vertu Motors is one of the UK’s largest automotive retail groups, operating hundreds of dealerships across the country and representing a wide range of manufacturers. With billions in annual revenue and thousands of employees, the business sits at the frontline of consumer demand, regulatory change and industrial transition — particularly as the shift to electric vehicles accelerates.

That transition is where his focus lies. “The UK ZEV mandate is putting immense pressure on every level of the automotive industry,” he says. From parts suppliers to retailers, the system is under strain. “The targets are completely delusional and there will be a crunch.” It is a characteristically direct assessment — and one that reflects the scale of the challenge facing the …

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