Johnson and Perrott, one of Cork's longest established companies, has won the prestigious Cork SME "Company of the Year" title. The award was presented by Cork Chamber of Commerce and backed by Vodafone. The Group comprises two car dealerships in Cork, one based in Mahon Retail Park and the other at Douglas Road in Cork City.
The brands managed by Johnson & Perrott include many premium names: Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo, as well as Kia, Honda, Peugeot and Opel. The commercial arm of the Group includes Kia, Mitsubishi and Opel. The Group is also involved in corporate fleet management.
With so many car dealerships struggling through the recession, it's worth noting that Johnson & Perrott was founded over 200 year ago. Today, the Group is managed by CEO Mark Whitaker - the fifth generation Whitaker to run the company of just under100 staff. "What makes us different is a lifelong commitment to good customer service, honesty, integrity and also the maintenance of excellent business partnerships" said Whitaker.
The reasoning behind the choice of Johnson & Perrott was explained by Leo O'Leary, Head of Large Business in Vodafone Ireland, "What was extremely impressive was how they organised their business to primarily focus on the customer - customer obsession was a very strong theme that came through."
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Indeed, the Cork-based Group traces its roots back to 1810 when it traded in horse-drawn carriages, making it one of the longest established motor groups in Ireland today.