Industry veteran honoured with International Auto Finance Network (IAFN) Lifetime Achievement Award

Professor Peter Cooke has been named as the first recipient of the International Auto Finance Network (IAFN) Lifetime Achievement Award, given in recognition of his substantial professional contribution to the industry made via the marketplace and in education.

Presenting the award at the inaugural IAFN conference in Milton Keynes last week Ed White, chairman of the White Clarke Group, paid tribute to Professor Cooke’s work in the automotive field over many years.

Cooke started his research and writing career while in Fleet Sales at Ford Motor Company, developing marketing programmes based on DCF analysis applied to fleet finance. His research and publications continued through developing niche marketing strategies and applied economics analysis during his time at Ford and spanning periods in the oil industry, automotive components and the high tech sector.

“Peter is someone who has made an enormous contribution to the industry, enabling us to think about marketing and strategy in completely new ways. He is someone who’s worked in every sector – automotive strategy, components, vehicle distribution, fleet management and vehicle finance – across the world,” White said.

White said Professor Cooke had made his specialist expertise available to others within the industry during the course of his twenty -five years in management education. This began with work at Henley Management College. He was then appointed professor at Nottingham Business School where he established a range of automotive management programmes and culminated in him setting up the Centre for Automotive Management (CAM) at the University of Buckingham Business School in 2007.

While Professor Cooke has theoretically retired from full time work, he assured delegates at the conference, he remains closely involved with the auto finance industry and now holds the position of Professor Emeritus at Buckingham University.

“I remain very active and committed to the industry, and rumours of my retirement are, I’m afraid, much too early. When I look back I started writing about auto finance issues more than 40 years ago. My first book used an example of a company car costing £1000 new. Research I did then at Ford on discounted cash flow and how it applied to the leasing industry has turned out to be a commitment for the rest of my life, and I am very pleased to have this recognition of my work in the field,” Professor Cooke said.

The IAFN was set up last year to provide a meeting place for the exchange of ideas and strategies amongst key players and market experts in the auto finance sector. As well as the quarterly conference, the IAFN offers online support and debate around the key trends facing the industry.