Adele Weston

Our Driving Force: Meet Adele

Multibrand Key Account Manager

Building relationships, overcoming obstacles and leading with heart. A story of determination, growth and dedication to the motor trade.



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How Adele is shaping modern Fleet Management

As a Multibrand Key Account Manager at Group 1, Adele’s role is all about building long-term relationships, managing diverse customer needs and driving forward the transition to electric fleets.  

“Once the customer’s cars are delivered, that doesn’t mean the work stops. Working in fleet is all about patience - building those lasting relationships with customers who can rely on you to deliver for them.  

I really enjoy working with Group 1’s diverse range of brands - this gives me that extra edge with customers, as I can really dive into what their needs are and meet them with a service they are happy with.” 

Destined for the motor trade… 

“I didn’t really enjoy school - I liked seeing my friends, playing with makeup and trying on clothes instead! I had no idea what I wanted to do, so I ended up following a friend to my local college to do a health and social care course. I quickly realised this isn’t where I wanted to work, however it showed me my passion for people.” 

Adele secured a job as a receptionist for a car finance broker, where she was quickly inspired by young professionals who were thriving in sales, and wanted to give it a try.  

She transitioned into finance sales, then into dealership work at VW Macclesfield, and then worked for 10 years in fleet sales at Ford with Pendragon. 

“My career journey has definitely not been smooth – with becoming a mother to three boys, transitioning into lots of roles and travelling across the country for roles, but one thing always stayed consistent, and that is my love for the motor trade. I joined Inchcape nine years ago, transitioned with my colleagues into Group 1 and I’m proud of where I am today, as an ambassador for both Group 1 and fleet sales.” 



Adele is most grateful for…

Her family and her health. In 2019, Adele’s life changed dramatically. During a customer meeting, she began slurring her words.

Initially dismissed as stress, she was later diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis, a severe condition that led to multiple seizures and a six-month coma. Doctors warned she might suffer permanent brain damage. But Adele defied the odds - relearning how to walk, talk, and eventually regaining her hair, her health and her driving license.  

“It was the scariest experience of my life. I had no idea what was causing my seizures, and neither did the doctors for a long time. Eventually, they discovered a teratoma lump on my ovary and were able to support me into a long recovery process.  

I am so grateful for all the support I received – particularly from Fleet Director Gary Nichols and my fantastic colleagues, when coming back to work. I completely lost my confidence, but these past few years I feel back to confident self".

This year, Adele and her team climbed Mount Snowdon, raising £3,000 for the Encephalitis Society, and will be continuing their fundraising into 2026.  

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A piece of advice from Adele 

My advice for working in automotive is – DO IT! If you are in school and not sure what to do, or you are looking for a career change, there is something for everyone in automotive. Every role is just as important as the next – from receptionist to sales to technicians, we are one team, and all support each other.  

My advice for someone looking to work in Fleet is be patient. Fleet sales is a world apart from retail. My days are filled with nurturing long-standing customer relationships with large fleets of sometimes over 3,000 vehicles. Some clients took me more than 7 years to convert. So be patient - you’ll hear a lot of “no’s” before you hear “yes.”  

At Group 1, we believe our people are our most important asset - the driving force behind everything we do.