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Andrew Smith

Director, Parts and Power

Director, Parts and Power

Andrew Smith joined Hendy in 1977 and has stayed loyal to Hendy for 47 years. ‘The company has always been expanding and there’s always been opportunities. And I’ve always enjoyed working here.’

 

Andrew worked his way up from an apprentice in the parts department, to Director of Parts and Power. One half of that job sees Andrew responsible for distributing parts to Hendy’s 70 sites across the South Coast, representing more than 20 car brands. The other half sees Andrew head up Hendy Power, that supplies bespoke power solutions to everything from crop sprayers to military vehicles.


‘Just over 25 years ago, we supplied parts for one brand, Ford. Now it’s more than 20.’ The company now turns over more than £80 million worth of parts and works both in retail and wholesale, supplying across the South Coast from Cornwall to Kent.

‘Hendy was my first job and I followed in the footsteps of my father, who was a parts manager. I’ve had a great career. If I hadn’t been able to move up, I would have left. But there were always opportunities. That’s the advantage of a business that is fast moving – and never more than now. It is focused on growth, including growing opportunities for its people.’

Now aged 62, Andrew has worked for three generations of Hendy. He says stopping work will be difficult. ‘Getting off the bus isn’t easy, because the Hendy bus has rocket engines.’ Andrew is however about to move to two days a week, giving him a bit more time for his many interests, including astronomy and motor racing.