On the Move

Hogan to head up Norton PR

Norton Motorcycles continues to grow with the recent appointment of John Hogan as head of communications. Hogan joined Norton on 3 October, stepping into the role from motorcycle journalism. Hogan’s career began with Two Wheels Only magazine (TWO) in 2004, following a career in the military. In 2009, Hogan left TWO as the features editor to work as a PR account manager for the Piaggio Group via Focus PR.

A move back to journalism followed when Hogan joined SuperBike magazine, where he was appointed editor in 2012 and led the editorial team at SuperBike away from print and onto a purely digital platform; SuperBike was the first motorcycle media outlet in the UK to top one million organic followers on social media.

A Sunday Times bestseller came next in 2016 when he wrote the John McGuinness autobiography Built for Speed. More recently his name has appeared across a wide range of publications, including the New York Times, Top Gear and GQ magazines. Hogan’s passion for road racing saw him join the broadcast team this year for both the Isle of Man TT races and the Manx Grand Prix, shooting a combination of live and prerecorded content on both television and radio.

Simultaneously managing a weekly motorcycle column in a national newspaper for the last six years, some of his best work came in telling the recent Norton story on SuperBike.co.uk.

Commenting on his appointment, Hogan told BDN: “I’m joining Norton at the right time for both Norton and for my career. I understand Norton’s recent history in detail and could see that under TVS Motors, today’s Norton is not what it was at Donington Hall a few years ago. It’s an exciting opportunity, one that will get my maximum effort. I’ve been lucky enough to work with some amazing people around the industry that have had a positive impact on my career. Neil Fletcher, Nick Bennett and Ian Baker at Honda UK, as well as Dan Lovis at BSA, have all played their part in building my confidence and skillset. You’ll find me on the Norton stand at Motorcycle Live; feel free to come and say hello”.

You can also find him at john.hogan@ nortonmotorcycles.com.

Orwell customer joins team

DALE ALLERTON HAS BEEN A loyal customer at Orwell Motorcycles in Ipswich for more than two decades. So when the dealership advertised a job there, he jumped at the chance.

The job is a general role, covering sales support, website and social media development, and assisting the clothing side of the business.

The 36-year-old Ipswich resident has worked as a driving instructor and carpenter, and has had at least 15 bikes, including Suzuki TL1000s and GSX-R1000s, a Honda SP-1 and a Triumph Thruxton 1200. His current ride is a KTM 1290 Super Duke R.

“I’ve always wanted to work here,” he said. “It’s a dream job, working with your hobby. I used to come in here all the time and now I am being paid for it!”

Gorman joins BeMoto

MOTO BROKING HAS recruited Scott Gorman as head of commercial and analytics for its Peterborough-based BeMoto motorcycle insurance brand. He arrives armed with more than 20 years’ experience working for major insurance and financial services firms, including Lloyds Banking Group, Morgan Stanley and Sainsbury’s Bank.

Driving the next phase of ambitious growth plans for BeMoto, the company says Gorman’s main focus areas will be top-line growth, operational resilience, strengthening learning and development functions, implementing business strategies and new product development.

“The appointment of Scott Gorman is a huge bonus for us,” said BeMoto managing director Mathew Long. “Having previously worked together, I know that his skills and acumen will see him quickly understand our business and the opportunities to help us realise our short to medium-term goals.”

Gorman added: “Naturally, I’m excited to take on the challenge at BeMoto, having followed the brand since its inception in 2015. What has been achieved already in such a short space of time, in a very competitive and established market, is nothing short of incredible. I look forward to driving the business forward at pace, moving closer to a vision of becoming the UK’s most loved and trusted motorcycle insurer.”

Close calls for Austin

Hilton Austin has been appointed as head of sales for the motorcycle division at Close Brothers Motor Finance.

Austin brings more than 20 years of experience in the automotive and service industries. With a background in both B2B and B2C sectors, including roles at Autino and Fiat Group, he brings an indepth knowledge of franchise, dealer and OEM operations to the motorcycle division.

He will lead a key part of one of the UK’s leading motor finance providers, overseeing the continued success and ambitious sales plans for the motorcycle division during a substantial period of growth and innovation in the sector.

Seán Kemple, managing director of Close Brothers Motor Finance, said: “Hilton is joining the business at a pivotal time for bikes. It’s been a great year for the sector, and the future of electric motorbikes and scooters provides huge potential for growth.

“His strategic expertise within big businesses will help us make the most of opportunities to build our motorbike offering and continue to provide the highest level of service to our dealer partners and customers.”

Close Brothers Motor Finance has recently been nominated as Independent Finance Provider of the Year at the Motor Finance Europe Awards. NOVEMBER 2022 21