Harris Group, the UK and Ireland’s largest independent commercial vehicle importer and distributor, has announced the appointment of Bill Laidlaw as Chief Operating Officer, Harris Group UK, while confirming its ambition to achieve annual revenues of €1 billion by 2030.
In his new role, Laidlaw assumes overall responsibility for Harris MAXUS UK, Harris Truck & Bus UK and future additions to the Group's UK brand portfolio, including a move into the heavy truck market. He will play a central role in delivering Harris Group's growth objectives to 2030 and beyond, supporting new business opportunities and helping to drive the next phase of the organisation's development.
Laidlaw brings extensive leadership experience gained across multiple sectors and has played an integral role in the growth and development of Harris Group's operations over a number of years. Widely respected throughout the industry, he combines strong commercial acumen with a deep understanding of customer requirements, market dynamics and operational excellence.
His appointment reflects Harris Group's commitment to investing in leadership capability and ensuring the business has the experience, expertise and energy required to deliver growth.
Brian Patterson, CEO at Harris Group, said, “We have set ourselves an ambitious target of achieving annual revenues of €1 billion by 2030 and have developed a clear roadmap to deliver it. Bill's appointment is an integral part of that journey.
“Bill brings incomparable experience, strong leadership and a genuine passion for our business, our people and our customers,” he said, “He has a deep understanding of the opportunities that lie ahead for Harris Group and a proven ability to deliver results. As we continue to expand our operations, strengthen our market position and explore new brand opportunities, Bill will play a pivotal role in helping us achieve our objectives.
“He has already made a significant contribution to the growth of our UK business and I am confident that, in his new role as Chief Operating Officer, he will help drive the Group forward as we work towards our €1 billion target in 2030.”
As part of the Harris Group's vision to 2030 and beyond, Harris MAXUS UK Managing Director, Steve Hunt, has taken early retirement following a successful period with the business.
Brian Patterson added, “Steve has made a significant contribution to our MAXUS operations and has played an important role in shaping the business in 2026. On behalf of everyone at Harris Group, I would like to thank him for his dedication, commitment and professionalism, and wish him every happiness in retirement.”
Harris Group confirmed that senior management restructuring is ongoing with further key appointments to be announced in due course.