Darren Leigh – Chief Executive Officer

Darren joined Unipart in April 2020 as Chief Financial Officer and was appointed Chief Risk Officer in October 2020. He was appointed Chief Executive Officer in October 2022.

Darren brings a wealth of experience as a highly-skilled and qualified finance professional having been in the industry for more than 30 years, with decades of experience in financial leadership and general management roles. Prior to joining Unipart, Darren held a number of senior finance positions at several blue-chip and private equity-backed companies, including Finastra Limited, The Sage Group plc, Freightliner Group Limited, Inchcape plc, Marconi plc and RollsRoyce plc. He has extensive knowledge across multiple sectors, including software and technology, logistics and supply chain, automotive, rail and manufacturing. 

Throughout his career, Darren has had considerable success in transformational leadership, implementing and embedding corporate governance, leading global financial transformations and partnering leadership teams to generate significant value. He has managed several business restructures, business mergers, acquisitions, integrations and disposals. Darren’s commitment to The Unipart Way, combined with his extensive understanding of the drivers of success needed for the delivery of Unipart’s strategy, and his unwavering focus on delivering value for Unipart’s stakeholders, will ensure Unipart continues to grow, winning new customers, in new geographies and market sectors.

He is a former Governor and member of the Finance Committee at Sandringham School.

Ray Leung – Chief Financial Officer

Ray joined Unipart more than 20 years ago. In 2007, he was appointed Head of Finance, Unipart Aftermarket Logistics, and then Finance Director, Unipart Logistics, before becoming Unipart Chief Financial Officer in 2024.

He has a demonstrated history of excellence in the logistics and supply chain industry, in particular the Automotive and Technology business sectors, with strong experience in audit, tax, acquisitions, financial strategy, commercial contract negotiations (customers, suppliers, property), and the growth of Unipart’s technology, automotive and healthcare sectors.

His key responsibilities in his role include being statutory director of a number of Unipart legal entities (both in the UK and overseas), and the management of finance and group property.

Vicki Hooper – Chief People Officer

Vicki joined Unipart in 1993, and was appointed Chief People Officer in 2024. 

With a background in learning and development, Vicki has more than 30 years’ experience of building organisational capabilities, driving strategic HR as a business enabler and managing people change programmes, both in house for Unipart as well as for a number of consultancy customers. She has a strong track record of using learning and behavioural development to drive business performance and employee engagement.

In her current role, Vicki leads the development and delivery of The Unipart Way – Unipart’s culture that is demonstrated in the way colleagues think, work and behave to drive value for its people, its performance and its customers. She leads the global HR function ensuring that Unipart’s people are engaged, capable and able to deliver their best every day.

Carol Rose-Burke – Managing Director, Manufacturing

Carol has been at Unipart for more than 30 years in her role as Managing Director, Manufacturing. 

Since joining Unipart in 1994, Carol has been one of the UK’s most forthright advocates for the manufacturing and engineering industries. She has played a vital role in a number of major projects, including the formation of Hyperbat Limited, the creation of the Institute of Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering, and the recent growth of Unipart’s manufacturing capabilities through the acquisition of Formaplex. 

In her current role, Carol continues to extend Unipart’s advanced manufacturing capabilities to a broader range of sectors as customers strive to make their supply chains more resilient and sustainable.

Carol holds the following external appointments: UK BIC (Battery Industrialisation Centre) Non-Executive Director; Representative at Mayoral Taskforce; Representative at Government Battery Workshops; Visiting Professor at Aston University.

Dr David McGorman – Managing Director, Technology

David joined Unipart through its acquisition of Instrumentel in 2017, of which he was a founding member and Managing Director. He was appointed Unipart Technologies Group Managing Director in 2021, and Managing Director, Technology, in 2025.

David has significant experience at senior director level and in the management, strategy, and growth of technology companies, with a proven track record of delivering strategic projects within high pressure environments, across multiple industries. His strong technical background coupled with a high level of business acumen, enables him to rapidly build high-performance teams and strong relationships with customers.

In his current role, David leads Unipart’s technology and performance improvement capability offering to all Unipart’s sectors, while also leading commercial and go to market for Unipart’s Rail and Public Transport sector.

David holds several degrees including a PhD in Electromagnetism, Inductively Coupled Telemetry, from the University of Leeds.

Jim Hartshorne – Managing Director, Commercial

Jim Hartshorne joined Unipart in April 2024 as Managing Director, Automotive. In 2025 he was appointed to the newly-created role of Managing Director, Commercial. 

Jim brought a wealth of supply chain experience to Unipart, having previously held roles including CEO UK & Ireland at business services provider Paragon, and Managing Director Retail and Consumer at DHL Supply Chain.

In his current new role, Jim leads the business development and customer engagement strategy across Unipart’s sectors, with a focus on taking Unipart’s full range of capabilities to the market to provide solutions for new and existing customers. He also leads growing Unipart’s Consultancy capability.

External appointments: Chair of Bamboozle Theatre Company,  a charity based in Leicester, UK that creates immersive theatre experiences for disabled children.

Andy Pyne – Chief Sustainability Officer

Andy joined Unipart more than 25 years ago. Since 2017 Andy has held senior operations director roles alongside leading Unipart’s  sustainability focus, and in 2024 was appointed Chief Sustainability Officer.

Andy has worked across Unipart’s sectors in the logistics business in a number of leadership roles. He is a highly-effective leader with extensive experience in cultural change, lean logistics, continuous improvement, business transformation, and large scale project delivery. In 2023, Andy spearheaded Unipart’s validation of ambitious near-term and net-zero targets by the Science Based Targets initiative.

In his role, Andy is responsible for setting and delivering Unipart’s strategies for sustainability, facilities, security, and health and safety.  He delivers synergies, economies of scale and efficiencies, creating a culture where all colleagues can deliver exceptional service for customers. He is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all colleagues and protection of the planet for them and all Unipart’s stakeholders.

Richard Gifford – IT Director

Richard joined Unipart in 2024 as IT Director and was appointed to the Executive Leadership Team in 2025.

With over 25 years of experience in IT and digital transformation, Richard has a proven track record of leveraging technology to enhance revenue streams and drive operational efficiencies. He has held senior leadership roles, including Chief Information Officer at Carillion plc and Wincanton plc, and Chief Technology Officer at Ordnance Survey. His expertise spans logistics, supply chain, construction, and manufacturing.

In his current role, Richard leads the IT team in consolidating a complex IT infrastructure, decommissioning legacy technologies to mitigate business risk, and implementing modern solutions to support business growth.

Ben Thornton – Group Legal Director

Ben joined Unipart’s rail business in 2014, and was appointed Group Legal Director in February 2022 and Company Secretary in 2024.

Ben previously worked as a solicitor at international law firm Pinsent Masons, specialising in corporate restructuring and insolvency law. After initially providing legal support to Unipart’s rail sector, Ben’s role has since expanded to support Unipart’s manufacturing sector from 2018, Unipart’s technology sector from its inception in 2020, and brought Unipart’s legal teams together to lead one Unipart function in 2022.

In Ben’s current role, he is responsible for key legal, governance and compliance functions in legal, company secretarial, commercial contracts and data protection. Ben is also chair of Unipart’s Group Risk Committee.

Caroline Brill – Marketing Director

Caroline joined Unipart in 2024 as Marketing Director. 

She has more than 20 years’ experience in branding, marketing and communications gained from in-house roles and consultancies including Intertek, BAE Systems, Inchcape, FTI Consulting and SustainCERT. Her last three roles were newly-created marketing leadership roles, where she established brand, marketing and communications functions to deliver strategic value and commercial growth.

In her role, Caroline is responsible for leading the development and execution of Unipart’s branding, marketing and go-to-market content, including all external communications.

Bryan Jackson

Bryan began his career with the Ford Motor Company, where he spent 23 years before joining Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Limited in 1990. He retired as Managing Director in 2004 and was an advisor to Toyota in Europe until 2009.

He has worked in many disciplines, holding senior positions and managing several plants in the UK and Europe covering the full range of vehicle manufacturing. As former Chairman of Sharing in Growth UK Limited, Wesleyan Assurance Society, the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the East Midlands Development Agency and the East Midlands Regional Council of the Confederation of British Industry, and John Smedley Ltd, Bryan has extensive Board-level experience.

Bryan was awarded an OBE in 2000 for services to the motor manufacturing industry and a CBE in 2012 for services to economic development and manufacturing. Educated at Instead, Fontainebleau, Paris and the Wharton Business school at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, he was a FRSA and is currently a FMTC. He has an honorary Doctorate in Business Administration from Nottingham Trent University in recognition of his contribution as an industrialist and champion of economic growth.

Bryan was appointed Chairman of Unipart in September 2024 following the retirement of John Neill.

Mark Johnstone

Mark is an established executive with extensive strategic and operational experience across a range of global markets, including transportation, real estate, hospitality, manufacturing and business service sectors. He has board-level governance experience of audit, risk and environmental, social and governance matters.

Mark joined Unipart from Signature Aviation plc (formerly BBA Aviation plc), a global aviation support services business employing more than 5,500 employees across five continents. He joined the business in 2008 as Group Corporate Development Director before becoming Chief Financial Officer, Signature Flight Support in 2009. Prior to joining Signature Aviation, Mark held roles in the aerospace and off-highway divisions of GKN plc.

In 2012, he was appointed as Managing Director of APPH. Mark was subsequently appointed Managing Director EMEA, Flight Support prior to becoming President and Chief Operating Officer of the jet engine repair and overhaul division in 2016. He was appointed Group Chief Executive Officer in 2018, a position he held until July 2021.

Catherine McDermott

Catherine is an experienced engineer and supply chain expert with over 20 years of board-level experience, as both an executive and a non-executive director. She was appointed to the Board on 1 January 2025. 

She has held key roles in organisations including McKesson, Amazon, NHS Property Services, and Circle Health after beginning her career in manufacturing and retail. 

Catherine has expertise in strategic delivery, leadership and transformation, particularly digital, and a strong grounding in board governance and oversight. Catherine holds a Master of Engineering degree and a Master of Arts degree from Cambridge University, along with an MBA from Cardiff Business School. 

Dominic Edmonds

Dominic has a distinguished general management career encompassing logistics and supply chain expertise. He was appointed to the Board on 1 January 2025. 

For much of Dominic’s career he has worked at senior level with Kuehne + Nagel Group and has held roles with responsibility for corporate development and mergers and acquisitions, having spent nine years as Head of EMEA Contract Logistics. In his early career at Kuehne + Nagel between 2012 and 2014, Dominic was Managing Director of the UK Contract Logistics business. 

Prior to joining Kuehne + Nagel, Dominic held senior leadership positions in ACR Logistics, Hays Logistics PLC, and EPS. Dominic has complemented his business experience with executive education at London Business School and Ashridge Hult, as well as being a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.