Ignite & Scale - The Real ROI: Profit-First Thinking for Dealer Groups with Ken Cumming

In this episode of Ignite & Scale, Mike Allen sits down with Ken Cumming, founder of Redhead Automotive, a consultancy renowned for transforming dealer profitability across the UK and Northern Europe.

Ken brings decades of operational experience—from Toyota GB to global consulting with ASE—and shares powerful, no-nonsense insights on what actually drives results in the automotive retail world. If you’re a founder selling into OEMs or dealers, this episode is essential listening.

What we cover:

🔧 Ken’s journey from the shop floor to founding Redhead Automotive

📊 Why most consultants miss the mark—and how Ken’s team stays grounded in the real world

💥 How to unlock hidden margin in aftersales through workshop efficiency, diary management, and people performance

🌍 Lessons from Norway and the Nordics: What EV adoption and cultural nuance teach us about aftersales strategy

💡 How SaaS founders can better pitch ROI to dealerships—ditch the feature lists, focus on time-saving and decision acceleration

Ken’s approach is practical, human-centred, and laser-focused on making dealer operations more profitable—fast.

Connect with Ken:
👉 www.redhead-automotive.com