Society of the Irish Motor Industry has appointed Liam Denning as its new President following the organisation’s Annual General Meeting held at the Killashee Hotel. A well known figure within Ireland’s vehicle body repair industry, Liam Denning brings decades of experience from the family business sector and a strong focus on industry standards and training. His appointment also marks a significant milestone for the organisation, as he becomes the first SIMI President to represent the Vehicle Body Repair Sector.
Speaking following his appointment, Denning said he was proud to take on the role and looked forward to representing SIMI members across the country.
“I am truly honoured to accept the role and do so with pride and responsibility,” he said. “I look forward to representing our members and working closely with the SIMI in the coming year.”
During his address, the new President highlighted several of the major challenges currently facing the Irish motor industry, including rising operational costs, staff recruitment and retention, and the pace of technological change across the sector. Denning acknowledged that electrification now sits at the centre of the industry’s future and said businesses across all areas of the sector have had to rapidly adapt through ongoing training, investment, and upskilling.
He also stressed that while progress is being made in EV adoption, there is still considerable work ahead if Ireland’s electrification targets are to be achieved.
“Despite positive market developments, the transition to electrification is only starting to gain traction,” he said. “The average age of vehicles on Irish roads is now over ten years old, and the affordability gap for consumers looking to move into newer vehicles continues to grow. If the EV transition is to succeed, it must continue to be supported through investment in charging infrastructure as well as incentives for consumers and businesses.”
Investment in people and skills development was another key focus of his speech. Denning said the long term success of the Irish motor industry will depend on attracting and retaining skilled workers across all sectors, particularly through apprenticeship programmes. He confirmed that apprenticeship training remains a major priority for the SIMI Management Board, with continued efforts planned to encourage more young people into careers within the increasingly high tech automotive industry. As President, Liam Denning says his aim will be to bring together all sectors of the Irish motor industry while continuing to advocate on behalf of SIMI members nationwide.
