One of the UK and Ireland’s automotive aftermarket’s leading figures is retiring this month. Brian Childs, Deputy Managing Director of NGK Spark Plugs Ltd, is stepping down from the day-to-day running of the business after 38 years’ service. He is to remain in an advisory capacity with the company.

Brian joined NGK when it was set-up in the UK in 1975, moving from Ford, where he started as an apprentice and then worked as part of the design and engineering team.  Brian recalls his first weeks with NGK, “When I started we had virtually no distribution network and had to work hard to persuade the trade to try an unknown NGK plug in place of the well established brands.”

Brian says NGK quality was the key to the development of the brand. He comments, “We soon gained a good reputation from the quality of our plugs and sold a lot of product into not only independent garages, but also dealerships. Business grew and grew, but really took off when we started supplying national wholesalers.”

Brian is also keen to praise his colleagues at NGK. “We have an extremely strong team at NGK with good management and fantastic staff. I am delighted that I am leaving the company in a very strong position across all aspects of the business.”