The Future of Commercial Vehicles

We have great pleasure in announcing two of the speakers for our first event in the Future Mobility Special Interest Group (SIG) series.

This hybrid event will be held both online and in person at the Silverstone Park Innovation Centre, and will delve into the impact of future mobility on commercial vehicles.

Offering useful insights into the latest developments in logistics and transport, we'll also get valuable intel on how technological innovations within the commercial vehicle sector are changing the landscape.

Speaking on the day will be:

• John Henderson (Director, Sara Penrose Ltd)

I started on the traffic planning desk at Turners (Soham) Ltd in 1997, and most recently was Commercial Director at Culina Logistics. My role focusing on understanding what customers want and providing profitable and reliable solutions. Clients included Waitrose, Morrisons, Ocado and Brakes. During my 25 years’ experience I have worked for 2 years in behavioural change consultancy, on behalf of the Department for Transport logistics team. I was also poacher turned game keeper, working for electronics and healthcare manufacturing companies managing their logistics.

I became interested in the business objective of quality and in particular the extent to which a product satisfies requirements. My experience showed me that too often a lack of asking customers the right questions about what they want, matching the answers with capabilities of the business and establishing the controls and standard to manage were absent. Leading to a loss of sales, customers and brand reputation. Therefore, with my wife Sara I established Sara Penrose Ltd in 2018 to train, apply and embed the skills behind this key business objective within companies teams to raise performance and profits.

My career choices are built on a lifelong love of all things lorries. I am therefore delighted to share in his passion and look at where future trends might take the industry.

• Grahame Neagus (Head of LCV and Municipal for UK & Ireland at Renault Trucks UK)

I have been in the industry since 1984, covering a variety of roles within the Truck and Van sales arena in UK, Europe and USA. Starting with Seddon Atkinson I progressed onto Foden Trucks and the Paccar Inc, Lex Autolease before joining Renault Trucks to head up the Light Commercial Division for the UK & Ireland.

Having spent over 38 years in the industry and across both the HGV and LCV sectors, I have a wealth of knowledge and passionate experience which now encompasses the transition into electromobility and other alternative fuels as we move into a cleaner and fossil free future.

• Stewart Gregory (Commercial Director, Faun Zoeller UK)

I have worked within the truck / specialist vehicle industry for over 30 years in many disciplines, including Service, Sales, Rental and Parts. I am currently the Commercial Director for FAUN Zoeller UK and have been for the past 10 years. My main duties involve leading the Commercial Team, Supply Chain / Operations Teams and also the Aftermarket activities of the business. My main focus at present is assisting people with the transition to alternative drive trains and suchlike. It is a huge transition for everyone, and I am here to try to help!

• Patrick Stringer (Commercial Director, Stagecoach Midlands)

I have been in the bus industry for almost 20 years, with my first senior management role being Commercial Manager at Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company in 2008. I worked on a vast range of commercial and business development initiatives in the vibrant south coast city for over 6 years before joining Arriva’s The Shires business as Head of Commercial Development for the Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire areas.

Since 2016, I have been Commercial Director for Stagecoach Midlands, leading the development of a business that principally covers Warwickshire, Coventry and West and North Northamptonshire. One of my current projects is the Coventry All-Electric Bus City initiative, that will deliver a fully electric bus fleet on all services into Coventry by the end of 2025.

Eric Griess (Chief Engineer, Lunaz Applied Technologies)

I’m a human passionate about using my strengths to make a positive impact on any form of life – now and in the future. This philosophy has guided me from introducing innovative technology in combustion engines to my current role as Chief Engineer of Lunaz Applied Technologies, where we upcycle and re-engineer commercial vehicles with electric powertrains. Our passionate team aims to prove to the world that circular product design and accountability can work in the automotive industry. The roots of my passion for sustainability go much deeper than my role: you’ll find me advocating for a more sustainable world at the office, on the factory floor, at the pub and everywhere in between. Circular product design, clean technology, anti-greenwashing, corporate responsibility, sustainable business models and polices are the pillars of my mission, and I thank the STC for giving me an opportunity to help contribute, discuss and illuminate how some of these pillars can be integrated into the future of mobility.

This event will include a number of presentations from leading businesses in the transport and mobility industry and a panel discussion.