Hippo Motor Group Welcomes Stuart Whittle in the role of CFO

Hippo Motor Group, the Lancashire car dealership, has appointed Stuart Whittle as its new Chief Financial Officer to support its nationwide growth plans.

Hippo Motor Group is among the UK’s fastest-growing finance companies, with over 300 employees and sales of more than 10,000 cars annually. The group consists of three businesses: Hippo Leasing, Caruno, and Hippo Approved (formerly Hippo Prestige). They also operate their contract hire and Hire Purchase finance company, Oasis Motor Finance. The company has offices in Blackburn, Manchester, and Luton, with additional expansion plans in Derby and Corby.

Stuart Whittle, with over 20 years of finance experience, has taken on this role. Before joining the Blackburn-based company, he held senior leadership positions in the vehicle, property, and banking sectors, which included roles at Close Motor Finance, LSL Property Services, and Leeds Building Society.

Stuart Whittle will not only lead the finance team but will also be tasked with developing a digitally-focused growth strategy for the company’s three brands.

Director Tom Preston stated, “We have enjoyed phenomenal growth over the past few years through investment in our team, technology, and state-of-the-art facilities. This year alone, we have increased our team by 50% and purchased new sites, so we are now geared up and ready to hit our targets in the coming years. In order to maintain our competitive edge in a busy sector, it is vital that we have a robust finance leader, and we are confident we have that in Stuart, who will be a real asset not just for Hippo but also for our own lending arm, Oasis Motor Finance.

He added, “Hippo is a business that prides itself on customer service excellence, so our people are our most important asset. Stuart has the experience to deliver a strong finance future as well as the skillset and qualities to lead his team and help them thrive.”

Stuart Whittle expressed his enthusiasm for the role, saying, “Hippo is a dynamic business, and Tom has a clear vision of its future place within the market and how we get there. I am delighted to join the team at this crucial chapter in the Hippo journey and can’t wait to get stuck into the role.”

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