Andy Lovett joins TIDAL as our new Business Development Director, bringing more than 30 years of experience across automotive refinish, distribution and the wider bodyshop sector.
Andy joined the Alliance in September as TIDAL strengthens its focus on national business development, creating new opportunities for our Distributor Partners while continuing to support the customers and markets they serve.
His career has included roles with Brown Brothers, BASF Coatings, Carlac, Avant Consult and BodyNet, giving him experience across manufacturers, distributors, bodyshops, dealer groups and the wider automotive refinish industry.
As Business Development Director, Andy will help develop national opportunities across the refinish market while supporting TIDAL Distributor Partners with significant opportunities in their own areas.
His role includes representing TIDAL in national tenders and Vehicle Manufacturer programmes, developing relationships across groups, Fleet, Lease & Insurance and Multi-Site Operators, and working closely with key suppliers and manufacturers.
The aim is straightforward: to make more of the collective strength that already exists across TIDAL and create opportunities that individual independent businesses may find harder to access on their own.
TIDAL Director Paul Blunt believes the appointment represents an important step forward for the Alliance.
“One of our key objectives has always been to ensure that TIDAL can compete at every level within our industry. We now feel TIDAL is ready and ideally placed to challenge convention.
“Having a dedicated Business Development Director will help move that ambition forward. Andy’s knowledge and experience make him the ideal person to take on the role.
For Andy, the role is not about changing the independent businesses that make up TIDAL. It is about understanding what the Alliance can offer collectively and using that strength to create sustainable opportunities for both Distributor Partners and their customers.
“At its simplest, my role is about creating opportunities,” said Andy.
“It means understanding what TIDAL can offer as an Alliance, building the right proposition around it and ensuring we can deliver consistently.
“Ultimately, I want to help TIDAL secure opportunities that benefit its members, deliver real value for customers and strengthen the Alliance as a whole.”
That approach sits closely with the model TIDAL has continued to develop: independent distributors retaining their own identity, relationships and local expertise while gaining the reach and support of a wider Alliance.
It was also an important part of what attracted Andy to TIDAL.
“You have the strength and scale of an alliance while retaining the agility and personal relationships of independent businesses,” he said.
“The opportunity is to add scale without losing personality.”
While Andy’s role will create additional support for TIDAL Distributor Partners, the benefit ultimately needs to reach the customer too.
By bringing together local expertise, national reach, strong supplier relationships, training and commercial support, TIDAL wants to continue developing solutions that help customers operate effectively as the vehicle repair market evolves.
Graham Smith, TIDAL Chairman and Director of Granville Supplies, believes Andy’s arrival will strengthen that offer.
“Appointing Andy gives us greater ability to present a comprehensive offer covering service, support, training and commercial solutions.
“As the vehicle repair industry continues to evolve, I believe TIDAL can provide new and effective solutions for the market. I’m pleased Andy is on board to help us take that forward.”
With Andy Lovett joining TIDAL, the first priority is to spend time across the network, build relationships with Distributor Partners and understand the opportunities that exist both locally and nationally.
Andy has been clear that he wants to listen first, understand the businesses that make up the Alliance and then help develop the right approach around what TIDAL already has.
Looking further ahead, he is particularly excited about seeing national relationships translate into meaningful opportunities for independent Distributor Partners.
“I’m particularly excited about developing national relationships and seeing those opportunities translate into real business for individual members.”
That is ultimately what this appointment is about: giving independent businesses greater opportunity, strengthening what TIDAL can offer customers and creating more reasons for Distributor Partners, suppliers and manufacturers to work together.
Andy brings a huge amount of experience to the role, but just as importantly, an understanding of the relationships and independent approach that sit at the heart of TIDAL.
We’re delighted to have him on board and look forward to seeing what comes next.
To learn more about The Independent Distributor Alliance, our Distributor Partners and the work we are doing across the automotive refinish industry, explore the rest of the TIDAL website.
Pictured left to right: Daniel Belcher, Car Paint Company; Jeff Morgan, Car Paint Warehouse; Andy Lovett, TIDAL; Pete Clipsham, Fisher Motor Factors; and Jason Andrews, Turner Supplies.
Paul Blunt
