Andrew Hooker Email & Phone Number

United Kingdom

Leading and directing technical excellence, and building capabilities and skills across Solus, ensuring we can offer the best technical services and the best service for our customers.Finding the repair processes for today and the future, for true sustainability that our customers and our customer’s children deserve and expect.Developing the digital fingerprint to validate each part of the repair.Responding to 3 regulatory/legislative changes this year, and expanding aluminium capabilities to meet predicted demand.Building faster evolving technology strategies, and commercial strategies, and building strong relationships with several key OEM.

Home-Based And Uk Wide

Responsible for maintaining and delivering the Solus Technical Strategy and quality standards for today and ensuring the repair capabilities into the future, keeping pace with industry advances and changes in the market.Building strong industry relationships to gain insights and learn best practices, tools and equipment to make recommendations for Solus.Prioritizing the technical book of work and communicating to lead a structured roll out of development of technical developments and capabilities. Working closely with Aviva colleagues to coordinate actions and strategies for the benefit of our customers. Working closely with vehicle manufacturers and OEM/OES to develop mutual and efficient long-term technical strategies aligned with the once in a lifetime transition to e-mobility, ensure clarity in managing to look after vehicles; and looking after mutual customers.2021 onwards - positioning Solus as EV repair leader, with more trained technicians to above industry standards to offer industry leading repair capability, including battery diagnosis and State of Health and battery repair. Commenced ADAS 2.0 program for new systems and higher level of frequency of surround systems, and to ensure accuracy of geometry and assistance systems. Developing and validating additive manufacturing program for safe and sustainable application of polymer and aluminium alloys for tools and repair solutions.Commenced green repair program for safe and environmentally sustainable repair, minimising energy use and waste, material recycling, and repair carbon scoring. Supporting a move to true carbon zero Working with industrial and academia partners on technology leading projects to progress safe development and deployment of CAV.

Berkshire, United Kingdom

Responsible for research and identification of new vehicle models and technologies, and technical/commercial strategies, engaging with vehicle manufacturers and OEM/OES to enable safe, successful and sustainable deployment of automotive technologies and vehicles.Working cooperatively with vehicle manufacturers upstream to help guide them for safe and successful SMR of their vehicles and technologies.Giving technical guidance and reporting for UK insurance underwriting and engineering, and education and information for managing and pricing new technologies.Identifying successful technical advances and strategies, to keep pace with developments of Automotive and Future Connected Mobility, including automated systems, e/e architectures, cutting edge of body construction and repairability/sustainability, electrified powertrains and packaging, and supporting infrastructure.Responsible for future design guidance to enable vehicle manufacturers to be able to plan, budget and successfully enable competitive SMR costs and sustainable vehicles.

I have provided strong leadership to research and define technical processes and procedures for handling and repair of electric and hybrid vehicles, and for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems in particular. We have evaluated equipment to manage ADAS, in mentored other organisations in managing ADAS and EV technologies.This has included management of the introduction of 48volts systems on to volume series vehicles so that UK insurance companies and tier 1 ARC safely and correctly manage these.During this time, we developed mutually beneficial engagement with vehicle manufacturers, OEM, and OES to resolve technical issues, and to remain at the cutting edge of technology.I led on identifying technical content, repair or replacement procedures, and reports/bulletins for the automotive sector, often in partnership with vehicle manufacturers.I have developed and expanded influence with vehicle manufacturers and technology providers to enable better outcomes for Service, Maintenance and Repair, providing guidance to industry working groups to manage best practices. I am technical advisor for UK insurance company Underwriting Department on new vehicles and technology, the implications and risks and benefits associated to these.Participant in and provided direction to guide research and development of Non-Destructive Testing for automotive car bodies that are composite intensive – British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT).I am a leading figure to the Research Council for Automotive Repairs (RCAR), on the Repairability, Damageability working groups. www.rcar.org Board member for The Value Chain and Battery Lifecycle Exploitation (VALUABLE) Project www.valuablebatteries.co.uk The principle consultant on contract with government of Saudi Arabia; providing design & process for Damage Assessment Centres, damage assessment processes, national accident repair centre standards, and a vehicle salvage Code of Practice, www.taqeem.gov.sa/en

Thatcham

I research new and emerging technology that is likely to have an impact on the automotive industry, attending international conferences and engaging OEM to identify trends in engineering and the solutions that are emerging to keep pace with crash test performance programmes and emissions legislation.This involves compiling and authoring reports and publications to brief insurers and the repair community, as well as other related parties such as the emergency services. A considerable amount of thought leadership is expected of me to analyse the technical and business cases for new developments to establish the significance of their integration into series production. I manage and coordinate many special projects and activities to enable the organisation and its stakeholders to meet these emerging technological challenges. As a key researcher at the forefront of business and technical trends I'm expected to report verbally by giving presentations and seminars, and I'm regularly asked to provide articles and content for a number of industry magazines and journals around the world. The role is primarily to identify threats to repairability and to enable insurers, repairers and consumers to have safe and efficiently repaired vehicles.

Thatcham

leading a team to produce repair data on vehicles, keeping pace with UK model launch dates. Planning, budgeting, H & S, coaching, and reporting functions. Developed a positive and confident team, and carried out additional planning and coaching tasks too.

Initially joining as part of SLT, helping build team and consistency in repair. Soon taking on direct control of workshop for consistency of productivity. Almost completely eliminated rectification, gained confidence of insurer work providers, and gained consistent performance.Also mentored and coached vehicle damage assessors.

London, United Kingdom

In this role I developed some standards and consistency around estimating a range of prestige brands including Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Bentley, Audi, Jaguar and Volvo. I developed the repair standards and capabilities of the productive team and oversaw the installation and start up of the new Kerridge DMS; a first for a bodyshop.

National

I initially managed a small Accident Repair Centre in Northampton, where I developed their workshop capabilities and found new work providers. I guided and mentored adoption of new working practices within production and supporting functions.At Welwyn Garden City I took over a failing business, rapidly re-motivated the teams and oversaw and managed a very rapid overhaul of the workshop and offices. This included branding and introduction of a new paint scheme, new IT system, a new workshop layout and chassis alignment, staff recruitment and training, and new operating procedures. This was to achieve the establishment of this as a ‘halo’ site to promote the company. This was achieved in less than 2 weeks.The next challenge was the largest business, in south Croydon. This had failed to make profits or achieve targets for many years, despite much support from management consultants. I changed the staff structure, recruited and mentored new staff, and found new suppliers in the first 3 days. This also involved losing some staff that could not adapt, but I developed a very strong team. The business plan for the site was flawed and incorrect, so I had to devise new targets and KPI. I needed to change company processes to adapt to the high levels of mechanical damage this site was exposed to. These challenges were achieved within the 2nd month and the site finally became profitable. Key-2-key cycle times were reduced, and work provider relationships significantly improved to the point that more work was referred to us, and the site became a model for new operational procedures (slightly different to the other 25 sites within the group). At the White City site, I supported the incumbent manager, identifying issues such as fraud and poor technical processes, resolving these rapidly and amicably.

In this role I resolved and stopped the huge warranty losses for Jaguar, Rolls Royce and Jeep service repair work, creating processes and coaching staff.I managed the lease contracts and reduced outstanding debts. I identified and stopped bad practices in the service reception and workshops.Transferred to the Bodyshop, I increased the work volumes by acting as a mobile business manager, and renegotiated contracts. I supported raising technical standards and consistency, and I added new suppliers and work streams to increase revenue to sustainable levels.Successfully implemented new IT packages and systems, supporting preparation for the ‘millennium bug’ and managing adoption of systems by the team.