Nick Reilly

Why Nick won...

Every year, we recognise an outstanding individual in the industry – and in 2011, Nick Reilly, president of GM Europe, takes the plaudits.

Reilly is one of our heroes, after helping steer the world’s biggest car maker away from financial crisis, and becomes the third name in our Hall of Fame. He’s worked hard to secure Vauxhall’s future; the firm’s Ellesmere Port factory in Cheshire recently built its 100,000th new Astra Sport Tourer, and has reintroduced its apprentice scheme.

But the big news for Vauxhall is the range-extending Ampera, which is set to revolutionise the way we use fossil fuels. Reilly has been a force behind it – he even drove the car from his home in Frankfurt to launch it at the Geneva Motor Show last year (above).

Reilly told Auto Express: “My ambition is for Vauxhall to stay number one and two in the market short-term, and to adopt its business to changing requirements so that it prospers in its second 100 years – bringing delight to its customers and good jobs to its communities.” We are behind him all the way.