Our Team
Our small team has hands on experience of working in the motor industry at all levels. We understand what you need from a recruitment agency.
All of us have worked in the Motor Industry for several years and have the experience to understand what you are looking for in a new job, or when you have jobs to fill in your business.
We select candidates for vacancies based on the criteria our clients specify; speak to each of them individually; assess their suitability for the job and only put forward those that we genuinely believe will add value to your business. As an employer that means you will only be sent CVs for the right candidates for your business and as a candidate you can be confident that your CV will not be sent anywhere without your knowledge.
Chris Highfield
Having trained as an Accountant, Chris became involved in the Motor Industry in 1985 Joining Trimoco as a Salesman. He progressed through the ranks of Business Manager, Sales Manager and Dealer Principal before becoming a Regional Manager for Hartwell when they took over Trimoco. In 1996 he joined the Dutton Forshaw Group and was part of the Senior Management MBO team that bought the business from Lonrho. In 1998 he joined the Osborne Group as Group General Manager before starting ARC Recruitment in 2000.
In his spare time Chris is a Director of the Colchester Garrison Officers Club and is a keen tennis player and skier. You can also find him on LinkedIn.
Nick Legge
Nick joined the Motor Trade in 1990 working for Trimoco. After a spell as a salesman and in Group Marketing he worked in Head Office after the takeover by Hartwell Plc as Operations Manager for the Ford Division. This was followed by 3 years as a General Manager of Luton Ford and Iveco in Dunstable. In 1996 he joined Carnell/Dixon Motors as General Manager of Peterborough Motorcycles before joining the Marshall Motor Group in 1999 as Head of Aftersales for their Thermo King division. Nick joined ARC in 2002. He is actively involved in Bourne Junior & Mini Rugby Club and you can also find him on LinkedIn.. Nick also looks after all of the company IT. He is married to Maria and has 3 sons and attempts to go running at least twice a week!
Chris Dowton
Chris joined ARC in 2007 after 8 years working in the Motor Trade. He has worked extensively in sales and has experience of both prestige and volume brands. Outside of work he is a governor at a local school and Chairman of the local Scout troop. Chris is married with 3 young children.
Patrick Weilds
Patrick joined the motor trade in 1994 as a Sales Executive at Birmingham VW for Hartwell PLC having previously owned his own clothing business.Via various promotions he was appointed General Sales Manager, a role he carried out for a number of years, before transfering within Hartwell to Lexus Wolverhampton as Dealer Principal in 2003. Patrick joined ARC in 2006. He has a keen interest in property development and playing various sports including football,golf,squash and tennis. Patrick lives nr Shrewsbury in Shropshire and is married with 2 young sons.
Chris Hall
Chris joined the motor industry in 1990 as a Business Manager via London General Holdings. After working for two privately owned dealerships, he became the Business Manager for an Audi/Porsche dealership owned by AFN in 1996. After a couple of successful years he was promoted to Sales Manager for Porsche Reading in 1999. General Sales Manager positions followed with BMW before Chris moved into recruitment in 2005. Chris joined ARC in July 2009 taking responsibility for South West London and surrounding areas.
Paul Smith
Paul joined the motor trade straight from school in 1986 as an apprentice mechanic with Ryder truck rental PLC. He then worked for various independent Commercial vehicle garages gaining promotions from Service Manager to Company Director. In 2005 Paul joined Renault Trucks at Blackburn as a Service Manager and up until moving into the Automotive Recruitment sector he was managing a UK & European wide Breakdown Service. Paul lives near Oldham with his wife and young son. He has a keen interest in Rock Climbing, Mountaineering and is a Team Member on the Oldham Mountain Rescue Team.
Maurice Wainwright
Maurice joined the Motor Trade as a Salesman in 1983. He quickly progressed representing Audi, VW, Renault and Nissan in the roles of Fleet Manager, Sales Manager and General Manager. In 2000 he was appointed Regional General Manager with responsibility for the Renault Retail Group’s Central and East London Dealerships. Returning to the North West in 2005 he joined the Holdcroft Motor Group as CMA Manager. His extensive knowledge of the industry and the North West area lead him to join ARC in 2011.
Ian Elwiss
Ian started in the motor trade in 1996 as a Used Car Sales Executive in Southampton, and gained promotion in early 1997 to Sales Controller for the same company but based in Chertsey Surrey, this was a used car supermarket. Within this role he moved around the country helping to set up sites in Glasgow, Manchester and Cannock. In 2001 he moved into the franchised world as a Sales Manager for Ford, and then to Jaguar based in Watford, then ultimately to Renault Retail Group where he progressed to General Manager. He has been in the Automotive Recruitment sector since early 2010. Ian is married to Adrienne and has 2 children; Oliver 7 and Francesca 5. He loves football and his team is Southampton!
