West Yorkshire’s Independent Motor Auctions (IMA) is to hold a weekly commercial van sale at its Leeds branch as it moves into van sales.
The new event joins the family-run firm’s three car sales a week and follows its acquisition last November of West Coast Motor Auctions (WCMA) in Poulton-le-Fylde near Blackpool in a deal worth a seven-figure sum.
The acquisition means IMA is not only branching into a new region but also auctioning vans and motorbikes as well as cars.
All 16 of WCMA’s original staff were retained as part of the takeover and two new jobs, including a new sales director, have already been created at the new site in Blackpool, which joins IMA’s three-acre site in Morley.
In addition, Geoff Flood joins the firm as commercial manager at the site in Morley. Flood joins IMA with many years’ experience in the sector having worked in commercial roles at organisations including SMA and BCA.
IMA has also invested over £200,000 in two new trucks to aid transportation.
Justin Lane, who recently took over from his father, John, as managing director following his retirement, said: “Our acquisition at the end of last year is resulting in huge growth plans for the business as a whole and we’re in the process of creating a number of new opportunities. Geoff brings with him many years of valuable experience and increasing our weekly sales means we need people like him to assist with our expansion.”
