Good-bye and good luck, Mr SMMT

By Graeme Roberts - 3 December 2012 16:49

Among other things, Everitt is an avid tweeter

The news will be largely overshadowed in the wider world by reports of the Royal Baby but those in the UK autobiz will have noted the pending departure of Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) CEO Paul Everitt to pastures new and non-automotive.

I don't think there is anyone on the just-auto staff who hasn't met Everitt, the subject of many interviews and news stories herein during his five years heading the UK auto industry's key trade group.

He has always impressed me as an enthusiastic live wire, and a totally on-message advocate for British Motor Engineering and Manufacturing plc.

On his watch, there have been innovative events such as the recent 'Meet the Funder' gathering in Birmingham while the regular, and much-looked-forward-to, annual Test Day for writers at Millbrook has got even better year by year.

Everitt's tweets from here, there and seemingly everywhere, suggest a schedule more like that of a busy freelance motoring writer than a suit at the top of the pile delegating as much as possible. He knows the industry so well because he's out and about a lot, talking to everyone from engineers to politicians.

Best of British in the new job, Paul.