John O'Hanlon

Observer
DISC Type : ci

Chief Executive Officer at Waylands

Reading, England, United Kingdom

Overview

John OHanlon is the CEO of Waylands Automotive, a multi-award-winning dealer group he founded in 2017. With a background as an accountant and a MA from the University of Glasgow, he has extensive experience in the motor trade, previously serving as CEO of Ridgeway Group.

He is a respected industry leader who participates in numerous interviews and podcasts, sharing insights on the future of automotive retail. His business philosophy is rooted in hard work and mutual respect among teams, customers, and manufacturers to navigate industry challenges.

John successfully grew his former company, Ridgeway Group, before its acquisition for £106. 9 million in 2016.

Personality Overview

Curious

Example Seeker

Assertive

They can sound friendly and charming but can quickly change gears to become inquisitive and probing.  They are likely to ask many questions and look heavily for supporting information. They are generally good communicators and can be hard to convince.

Topics They Care About

Electric Vehicle Transition
As Chairman of the NFDA's EV Group, he is deeply involved in preparing the motor retail sector for electrification, focusing on training, investment, and customer education.
Future of Motor Retail
He frequently speaks on the evolution of dealerships, emphasizing a "digital-first" approach while maintaining showrooms as fun, attractive places for customers.
Automotive Business Growth
Having founded Waylands and previously scaled Ridgeway Group for a £107m sale, he has a clear focus on strategic expansion and choosing the right manufacturer partners.

Media Appearances

Waylands Automotive John O'Hanlon – Car Dealer Inspiring .... Featured in YouTube

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MT Interview: Waylands Automotive CEO John O'Hanlon. Featured in Motor Trader

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How Waylands Auto CEO John O'Hanlon finds the 'sizzle' in sales. Featured in Automotive Management (AM) Online

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Work History

11-2017
Chief Executive Officer at Waylands
12-2020
Chairman – NFDA EV Working Group at NFDA | National Franchised Dealers Association
10-2016
Non Executive Director at John Clark Motor Group
2-2007 - 5-2016
CEO at Ridgeway Group
1-2000 - 2-2007
Financial Director/Brand Director at Ridgeway Group

Education

1987 - 1990
MA from University of Glasgow
1979 - 1986
Education details unavailable from Cardinal Newman High School

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 34 Location : Reading, England, United Kingdom Job Level : Leadership Designation : Chief Executive Officer at Waylands
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Insights For Selling To John

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Ask them questions to understand their needs better while staying affable
  • Invite them for a social do but don’t rely solely on the relationship
  • Persuade objectively how your product will help them achieve their goals

DONT's

  • Don’t try to rush them into a decision, provide all necessary information first
  • Don’t rely excessively on your relationship with them to win the deal
  • Don’t be too objective but make sure to pad your storytelling with data points

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with John is

  • Proven value, strong testimonials are important to them, relationships will have some weightage.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from John

  • They are practical and friendly, don't expect a clear-cut response often.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will John move?

  • They like to be detailed and take their time to arrive at decisions.
  • Can John take some risk or not?

  • They evaluate their decisions systematically and are less likely to take risks.

You And John

Personality Compatibility


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