Johnson & Perrott Motor Group has just announced the appointment of a new Chairman of its Board of Directors. The Company, which was founded in 1810, has appointed Mr Harry Lorton as a Non-executive Director and he will become Chairman on the retirement of the group's current Chairman, Mr Seamus Scally, in June.

Harry will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Board.  He is the former CEO of Cork & Limerick Savings Bank and of TSB Bank.  He managed the merger and integration of TSB into the banking arm of Irish Life & Permanent plc, developing Permanent TSB into one of Ireland's top three banks.  Internationally, Harry served on the Board of Royal Liver Assurance in Liverpool for five and a half years.  He served as Deputy Chairman for two years and now chairs the Royal Liver Assurance Sub-fund with the Royal London Group.  He serves as a Non-executive Director of ICS Building Society (part of Bank of Ireland Group) and is a member of the National Competitiveness Council. He is also Chairman of H+A Marketing & PR and is a Director of Kinematik Group Ltd.  He holds a degree in Business Studies from Trinity College, Dublin, is a Chartered Certified Accountant and is a graduate of the Owner/President Management Programme of Harvard Business School.

Speaking of the appointment, Mark Whitaker, Chief Executive of Johnson & Perrott Group, stated "We are very privileged that a businessman of Harry's stature is willing to invest his time, energy and knowledge in our Company and I look forward to working alongside him in what will be a very exciting as well as a very challenging time for our organisation."

Paying tribute to Seamus Scally's contribution to the company, Mark added: "During the last five years, Seamus has brought his immense experience to guide the company through a very difficult economic period.  I would like to personally thank him for his extraordinary support and invaluable counsel during his time as our Chairman."