Simon Lane: From Porsche and Aston Martin to bespoke supercars – an entrepreneurial journey from the sales floor to iconic design collaborations and beyond.

In this episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR, we’re celebrating the career to date of Simon Lane, a distinguished automotive executive and entrepreneur with deep expertise in high-performance sports cars. Simon has held senior leadership roles with brands like Porsche, Aston Martin, and Lotus, where he played a pivotal role in shaping bespoke vehicle programs, including Aston Martin’s ‘Q by Aston Martin’ and Lotus Advanced Performance. An award-winning leader, Simon was named General Manager of the Year by Jardine Motors Group in 2018 for his outstanding leadership at Aston Martin Cambridge, where he transformed the dealership into a globally recognized benchmark. He has also managed high-profile special vehicle projects, collaborating with iconic names like the Red Arrows and the James Bond franchise. Now, as the founder of SLS Consulting Ltd, he advises specialist sports car design and engineering firms, leveraging his vast experience across automotive manufacturing, commercial strategy, branding, and customer experience.

Simon’s journey started in Paisley, Scotland, and has been shaped by resilience, adaptability, and a passion for the industry. In our conversation, he reflects on his early challenges, from struggling academically to finding his footing in retail and car sales before landing a pivotal role at Porsche Centre Hatfield. We discuss his time rebuilding Porsche’s sales team, leading Aston Martin Cambridge to new heights, and managing bespoke projects like the DB5 Goldfinger edition.

Simon shares how corporate constraints eventually led him to launch his own sports car brand here in the UK. Along the way, we explore themes of entrepreneurship, creativity, and the importance of career transitions.

I am delighted to be able to share this inspiring conversation and look forward to hearing what resonates with you.

Connect with Simon

LinkedIn Profile
Listen to Simon's interview on TAKONA TLKS: Simon Lane - The Real Q (amongst many things) - Episode 79

About Andy

I'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.

During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.

At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.

I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.

Learn more about Fulfilling Performance

Check out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.

Connect with Andy

LinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk

Join a guided peer mentoring team: Aquilae Academy

Thank you to our sponsors:

ASKE Consulting
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Aquilae
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk

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Episode recorded on 28 February, 2025.