Karl Blair (Director)

Karl has been in this industry (on and off) for the past 20 or so years – some would say it seems like much longer but people can be cruel, especially in the motor trade! Generally he’s an absolute pain to work with as he’s extraordinarily fussy (grumpy and bad tempered are other expressions bandied about when he’s out of earshot) and wants everything done yesterday.

Still, he appears to know quite a few people in the retail motor trade, so it’s quite useful having him around. He also seems to know what he’s talking about on occasion, provided you know what to listen for!

Speak to Karl if you have a sales or product related enquiry. Try not to bother him with too many problems as he tires easily.

Kevin Pengilly (Director)

Kevin owned his first business back in Zimbabwe at the ripe old age of 20 and ran it very successfully until Uncle Bob (Mugabe) decided that he’d rather have it. Arriving in England he foolishly decided that the in car entertainment industry appealed – he would have gone back into more serious engineering, but was fed up getting mucky.

Apart from a rather patchy memory (too much partying) Kevin has excellent administration and technical skills. In fact he’s as much at home in the office as he is in the workshop. He will happily disentangle our computer system, do the accounts or design a wiring loom. In fact, he’ll do pretty much anything apart from hoovering – something about his upbringing….

As you’d imagine you can speak to Kevin about pretty much anything. He handles the accounts, purchasing, technical calls and sales enquiries and being much younger doesn’t tire so easily. This always assumes he hasn’t broken something like a shoulder, arm etc. as he has a strange fascination for any sport that involves the possibility of damaging oneself

Jason Hankey (Director)

Like Kevin, Jason also hails from Zimbabwe where he ran his own family business in the motor trade. Able to repair almost any car (in fact almost anything at all, including himself) with nothing but a penknife and some chewing gum (he’s of the opinion that superglue should be kept in the first aid kit), Jason is in charge of our workshop. We all agreed he should be in charge because he’s the biggest and if things get fractious, he’s the best equipped to deal with things!

Whatever it is you want doing, Jason is the one who will either do it or make sure it’s done properly. Whether its wiring, welding or woodwork, Jason will happily (always assuming he’s had a good nights sleep, a quick ride to work and not too much vodka the night before) take on the challenge. On the other hand he doesn’t appreciate snide comments about the amount of leather he feels it necessary to wear in order to ride a motorcycle.

Provided he hasn’t recently (and unexpectedly) parted company with his motorcycle, you can speak to Jason about work in progress. He will also be able to help you with technical and/or installation related problems. Like Kevin, he is also of the opinion that any sport that does not involve physical injury is only fit for the English.

Matthew Anthony (Sales)

We first met Matthew when he was working for one of our best customers. As well as being too witty for his own good and annoyingly fast at completing the Telegraph crossword he is horribly well organised - which is just as well as Karl isn’t.

Known to us all as the fastest quip in the West (well, West Acton anyway) Matthew is also a strong exponent of two wheeled transport, though he’s currently quite enamoured with a four wheeled, two doored, no roofed alternative. He is also a little bit too fascinated with bonfires which is why we’ve purchased a few additional fire extinguishers.

Always assuming that he’s not watching a motor race, playing golf with his wife in Nevada (yes, he’s that devoted), drinking at the Attic wine bar (Hanger Green, Acton if you’re interested) or trying to take some money off his best chum (Paul) at poker, please call Matthew with your sales or general enquiry.

Artur Ogannisyan

“Artur the Armenian” is our financial controller. He spends much of his time perched in his little eyrie high above the workshop perusing our expenses with his beady little eye. In fact the only time you see him is when he swoops down to demand this, or that, receipt.

If you’re seeking payment, need a copy invoice or have another accounts related query please call Artur and brighten up his day.

The Workshop aka “The Coalface”

The workshop is Jason Hankey’s domain and he is ably assisted in his various endeavours by Dimitri, Mantis and Jamie. In addition, we also regularly call upon the services of a rather strange, but inventive, Australian, Graham Smith and a cabinet maker by the name of John Varley (when he’s not running Barclays Bank, that is!).

Dimitri has many years of automotive experience behind him and Jamie and Mantis are catching up fast. Graham has more experience than the rest of us put together, though considering he could give Rip van Winkle a run for his money this is hardly surprising!

We are very fortunate that everyone in the workshop possesses skills not generally associated with this industry such at metalworking and carpentry. We fabricate most things in house and on the odd occasion we need to outsource a project we can always rely on Kevin’s CAD (Computer Aided Design) skills.