Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia
Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia (born October 1958)[1] is a London-based Indian businessman[2]. He is founder and previously[3] Executive Chairman of car parts distributor Euro Car Parts.[4][5] Ahluwalia is also founder and Chairman of Dominvs Group, a property-focused asset management company.[6]
As of May 2018, Ahluwalia is the fourth richest refugee in the UK.[7]
Early life
Born in Uganda, Ahluwalia’s parents emigrated to the UK when Ahluwalia was 13 years old to escape persecution under Idi Amin.[4][8] When they arrived in the UK, the family spent a year in temporary shared accommodation.[8][9]
As a teenager, Ahluwalia spent time in the markets of Petticoat Lane and Liverpool Street.[8]
Career
Euro Car Parts
Ahluwalia founded Euro Car Parts in 1978 after borrowing £5,000 from his father and Barclays bank to buy a car parts shop in Willesden, London.[8] The shop, originally called Highway Autos, was renamed Euro Car Parts a year later.[8]
In 1981, Ahluwalia opened a second branch of the company in the Willesden area.[10] The company originally supplied car parts for BMW, Mercedes, Porsche and VW vehicles.[11] The company expanded to become the leading suppliers of parts, paints and equipment for cars and light commercial vehicles in the UK.[4]
By 2011, Euro Car Parts employed 3,500 people across 89 locations.[9] In October 2011, Ahluwalia sold Euro Car Parts to LKQ Corporation for £280 million, with a supplementary £55 million if targets were met.[12][13][5]
After the sale, Ahluwalia became Executive Chairman of LKQ Corporation's businesses in the UK, Ireland and India.[4] Ahluwalia also sits on the American Board of the company.[4][14]
As of 2018, Euro Car Parts company has more than 300 branches across the UK and employs more than 10,000 people.[15]
Ahluwalia stepped down from the board of LKQ in December 2018.[16]
Dominvs Group
In 2011, Ahluwalia founded property company Dominvs Group.[4] The Group manages a portfolio exceeding £700 million.[17][18]
The Dominvs Group has acquired or constructed a number of UK hotels, including The Holiday Inn Manchester City Centre, Mercure Sheffield Parkway Hotel, The Holiday Inn Darlington and The Holiday Inn Dumfries.[19][20]
The Group also owns Paradise Street, Oxford; Ralph Allen Building in Bath; Holiday Inn Express Aberdeen Airport and Crowne Plaza Aberdeen Airport; The Dixon at Tower Bridge, London.[21][22][23][24]
In 2016, Ahluwalia invested in e-waste processing company EcoCentric Management based in Mumbai, India.[25] In 2017, Ahluwalia invested in truck and trailer part distributor Digraph Transport Supplies.[25]
Personal life
Ahluwalia lives in Hampstead, London.[4] He is married to Rani Ahluwalia and they have three sons who are also involved in the businesses.[4] The family has supported projects to help the homeless in London and provide education to children in India.[9]
Ahluwalia plans to move to India in the future.[9] He is a supporter of the Migration Museum.[26][27]
References
- ^ "Sukhpal AHLUWALIA - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
- ^ "Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia's official profile on The Marque".
- ^ https://news.sky.com/story/jobs-axe-hangs-over-car-parts-distributor-as-top-team-quits-11592771
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Our Founder - My Story". corporate.eurocarparts.com. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
- ^ a b Osborne, Alistair (2011-10-05). "Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia sells Euro Car Parts for £225m after starting it with £5,000". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
- ^ "UK Indian billionaires". The Financial Express. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
- ^ List, Robert Watts, Compiler of the Rich (2018-05-06). "Penniless refugees flee war to land on Rich List with £6bn". The Sunday Times. ISSN 0956-1382. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c d e Osborne, Alistair (2014-04-21). "Asian entrepreneur moves on from the Euro Car Parts group he founded". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
- ^ a b c d Kirby, Arthur. "How a refugee created 3,500 jobs in Britain". CNNMoney. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
- ^ "Euro Car Parts Heritage | Quality Car Parts| 200+ Branches Nationwide". corporate.eurocarparts.com. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
- ^ "About Euro Car Parts | High Quality Car Parts | 200+ Branches Nationwide". corporate.eurocarparts.com. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
- ^ "LKQ Corporation Appoints Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia To Its Board Of Directors". investor.lkqcorp.com. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
- ^ "Euro Car Parts sold to LKQ for £225m". Financial Times. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
- ^ "Car parts entrepreneur in line for £280m payday from US sale". The Independent. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
- ^ "Euro Car Parts Facts". corporate.eurocarparts.com. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
- ^ https://news.sky.com/story/jobs-axe-hangs-over-car-parts-distributor-as-top-team-quits-11592771
- ^ "Dominvs Group | Real Estate & Private Equity". Dominvs Group | Real Estate & Private Equity. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
- ^ "Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia: Man of many parts EGi". EGi. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
- ^ "Dominvs sells Holiday Inn Manchester City Centre". The Caterer. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
- ^ "Property firm Dominvs in £30m Aberdeen hotel plan". The Scotsman. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
- ^ "Dominvs Group to develop Courtyard by Marriott in Oxford". The Caterer. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
- ^ Ltd, Insider Media. "Dominvs buys Bath property". Insider Media Ltd. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
- ^ "Holiday Inn Express opens Aberdeen airport hotel - Business Traveller – The leading magazine for frequent flyers". Business Traveller – The leading magazine for frequent flyers. 2015-05-08. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
- ^ "Dixon hotel to open next year". The Caterer. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
- ^ a b "Dominvs Group | Real Estate & Private Equity". Dominvs Group | Real Estate & Private Equity. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
- ^ "Industry must speak up for immigration". Retrieved 2018-08-15.
- ^ "Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia". Retrieved 2018-08-15.