Automotive Art

DERECK FOSTER

Executive Chairman

Art Holdings Inc. & Affiliated Companies

Dereck is the Executive Chairman of the Automotive Art Group of companies, of which he is a founding partner.  Beginning with a staff of 6 in 1990, it has grown to a staff of more than 150, with three retail stores in Barbados, two in St. Lucia and a chain of franchisees and distributors throughout the Caribbean, Central and South America.  The company has grown from an automotive paint distribution business, to become the largest auto-care retailer in the Caribbean.  In 2008 Dereck moved on from managing the day to day operations of the group to pursue other ventures.  He remains directly involved in the role of Executive Chairman.

DOUGLAS ARMSTRONG, B.Comm., MBA

C.E.O.

Art Holdings Inc.

Douglas Armstrong joined Automotive Art in May 1992 as Marketing Manager, and was responsible for the development of corporate marketing plans, as well as product development.  In July 1995 Doug was appointed to the Board of Directors, and continued to function in his role as Marketing Manager for the company, and took on responsibilities in five of the company’s export territories.

In January 1996 he took up the post of General Manager - Automotive Art Barbados, where he was responsible for retail and commercial operations in Barbados.  In 2000 he assumed the position of President of the company’s distribution centre in Miami, and commenced logistical operations to support the company’s growing network of franchisees and distributors.  He returned to Barbados in 2006 to take up the position as Vice-President Global Business Development where he was responsible for the development of new businesses for the group of companies.  In 2008 Doug moved to his present position of CEO, where he assumed responsibility for the operations of the group.

ANITA DaCOSTA

Training and Development Manager

Automotive Art International Inc. 

Anita joined Automotive Art in April 1999 after many years experience with Xerox and IBM in sales, as well as instructing, training and motivating employees in the areas of sales and customer service.

Anita's initial project was the development of the Human Resources department at the Corporate Headquarters in Barbados.  In conjunction with this, she has also developed our comprehensive HR manual used by managers throughout the franchise network.

Anita has focused her time on developing several training courses including Customer Satisfaction, Human Relations and Sales Representative training, and is also certified to teach AchieveGlobal Inc. Leadership courses.  She is responsible for the initial and ongoing training of our Franchisees on topics from Information Systems to In-Store Procedures, and assists both the corporate office and Franchisees with the hiring of employees from Supervisor level and above.

CHRIS MALONEY, CGA

Vice Pres. Franchising & Finance

Art Holdings Inc. & Affiliated Companies

After joining the company in 1996, Chris has been promoted through the ranks of the accounting department, and assumed the position of Group Financial Controller in January 2000.  Since this time, he has facilitated the strategic vision of the Board by establishing a corporate structure that encompasses companies across several jurisdictions, which all share the goal of maximizing shareholder returns, while rigidly upholding the organisation's ethical standards.

He was promoted to the new post of Vice President of Franchising and Finance in July 2006, and has been given additional responsibility for the maintenance and development of the Automotive Art franchise chain.  Chris maintains overall responsibility for the financial operations of the group, and also consults on the maintenance of the company’s IT platform across various operating entities within the Group.

Hugh Walker, MBA, BSC , MIEE

Group IT Manager

Art Holdings Inc.

Hugh Walker is an experienced IT professional with over twenty (25) years in the technology field, eight (8) of which were in a senior management position with Cable & Wireless.  Hugh joined the Automotive Art team in May of 2009 and has been leading the charge to revamp the organisation’s internet presence.

Hugh’s passion for technology was fuelled in his early days at secondary school, and refined at the UWI Cave Hill campus.  His first major post was with CORCOM, an electronic component manufacturing firm, and this taught him that to achieve the best result requires a blend of technology, people and process.  He then went on to earn an Executive Diploma in Business Management with UWI St Augustine, and then his Masters of Business Administration with the University of Surrey.

Hugh’s management potential was recognized by his inclusion in the Cable & Wireless World Wide Talent Development Programme for its top 100 managers, and he is a member of the Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers Computer Society.

Jonathon Hart

General Manager

Jonathon’s career began with three years in the advertising industry before joining Automotive Art in July of 2008 as the Brand Marketing Assistant.  His major responsibilities were to aid the General Manager for Barbados with all brand related functions for the Barbados market.  During that period he spent time on the retail floor, in the wholesale division and in the service centre learning all aspects of the operation in Barbados.  In April of 2009 Jonathon was promoted to Marketing Manager for Automotive Art International and affiliated companies, and was responsible for managing the internal marketing department and charting the course for new marketing plans for the group. In January 2011, Jonathon assumed the role of General Manager for Automotive Art Barbados, where he is responsible for managing all aspects of the company’s operations in the island.

He holds an Associate’s Degree in Applied Arts (Major in Business Studies) from the Barbados Community College and a Bachelor of Commerce Degree (Double Major in Marketing & Human Relations) and a Certificate in Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations from St. Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.