LOOKERS Ford, the new name for Jennings, has welcomed a new member of staff from Tynedale to the management team within the company’s accident repair centre at Gateshead.

Keith Milton (57) from Hexham, has taken on the role of assistant manager to help oversee the day-to-day running of the accident repair department at Lookers Ford, Eslington Park.

Previously managing director of the family’s former business, Motor Bodies (Hexham) Ltd, Keith brings with him more than 37 years’ combined motor industry experience, having worked in a number of areas within aftersales, including service, MOT, and motor body maintenance and repair.

In his new role, Keith will be working alongside Andrew Gills, the dealership’s accident repair centre manager and will be responsible for assisting with overseeing the body shop team of approved technicians, controlling stock supply and monitoring workmanship and customer care.

The world of motors began for Keith after he left high school in 1978.

With a number of GCEs under his belt, he decided to embark on an apprenticeship at a local garage.

After serving his time as an apprentice for five years, Keith’s dream career finally became reality when he started working as a fully fledged motor vehicle technician for a local motor dealer.

Over the next 17 years, he gained experience working for a number of independent garages across the North-East, prior to steering towards his family’s own motor body business.

“When the family business was sold in 2014, I decided to retrain and I became an oil heating engineer, but working in the world of plumbing and heating simply wasn’t for me,” Keith said.

“I heard about the vacancy through an ex-employee and I decided to apply.”