Family owned franchise retail group, Waylands Automotive,  has relocated its Reading Volvo dealership.  Waylands Volvo has moved from Bennets Road to new £6m premises on Imperial Way, close to the M4 motorway.

Waylands CEO John O’Hanlon, launched the group specialising in Volvo, in November 2017 with the acquisition of a Volvo franchise in Reading.

The launch came just 16 months after he stepped down from his role as CEO at Ridgeway following the sale of the group to Marshall for £106.9m.

O’Hanlon has unveiled an ambitious five-year plan to turn Waylands into a £100m-turnover business.

In May 2018 Waylands acquired Fawcett’s Volvo Newbury. Three months later the company acquired Swindon’s Volvo franchise and in October 2018 it took over Volvo Cars Oxford, which will be re-located.

O’Hanlon also bolstered the Waylands management board with the appointment of ex-Ridgeway directors in 2018. James Smullen joined Waylands Automotive as finance director having previously worked for Ridgeway and Marshall Motor Group. Richard Spencer also joined as aftersales director. He started in the trade with Hartwell rising to group service manager before spending 17 years with Ridgeway as group aftersales director.

In December Waylands appointed Natalie Willoughby as group corporate sales manager. Willoughby has 20’ years’ experience in corporate sales.