Meet the Team: Getting to Know Kaveh Rowshanzamir
Customers visiting Lightcliffe Škoda may already have met Kaveh “Kav” Rowshanzamir, the dealership’s New Car Sales Manager. Kav joined the team last year, bringing with him valuable experience gained during a successful career with Toyota – one of the world’s largest automotive manufacturers.
General Manager Nick Price says Kav’s appointment has had a very positive impact on the team.
“From the moment Kav joined us, his enthusiasm and professionalism were obvious. He’s brought strong leadership and a real focus on customer experience to the new car department.”
We recently caught up with Kav to learn a little more about his background, his passion for music and what motivates him at Lightcliffe Škoda.
Q: How did you first get into the motor trade?
I actually came into the industry quite late. I was about 34 at the time and working in a door-to-door sales role selling things like insulation and boilers. It was tough work and completely commission based.
One day I received a message inviting me to interview at Bentleys Toyota. I initially thought it meant Bentley cars, which sounded exciting! It turned out to be a Toyota dealership, but it was a fantastic opportunity. After a long interview process I was offered the job, and that’s where my career in the motor trade really began.
Q: What did you learn from your time with Toyota?
Toyota gave me the foundation for everything I do in the motor trade today. The focus was always on customer care, professionalism and doing things properly.
The dealership I worked at was very similar to Lightcliffe – a family-run business with strong values. Those principles around hospitality and looking after customers are something I’ve always tried to carry with me.
Q: What attracted you to join Lightcliffe Škoda?
Škoda is an incredibly exciting brand at the moment. If you look at the market across Europe, the brand is growing very quickly and gaining huge recognition for its quality and value.
When I met Nick Price during the interview process, his enthusiasm for the business was really infectious. It was clear the dealership had strong values and a clear vision, which made the decision to join very easy.
Q: What do you enjoy most about being New Car Sales Manager?
For me it’s seeing the team develop and work well together. We now have a really strong, stable group of people who support each other and take pride in what they do.
Seeing that positive team environment develop and then watching the results follow is incredibly rewarding.
Q: What advice would you give to someone buying a new car for the first time?
My biggest advice is to come in and speak to the experts rather than relying on what you might hear elsewhere.
For example, many people still have misconceptions about electric vehicles. If you come in with an open mind and talk through the options, we can help explain the technology properly and find something that genuinely suits your lifestyle.
Q: We hear you’re a keen guitarist. How did that start?
I started playing when I was about 16 at college. My best friend Scott had a guitar and it turned out that his dad had actually played with the band that later became The Buzzcocks, so music was always around when we were growing up.
Scott too the time to show me a few chords one afternoon and that was it – I was hooked straight away.
Q: What music do you enjoy playing?
My tastes are quite varied. Recently I’ve been playing a lot of Paul McCartney, Paul Simon and John Denver because their songs and guitar style really appeal to my own style of playing.
Paul McCartney in particular is fascinating because he’s largely self-taught and has a very unique guitar style.
Q: If you could see any band live – past or present – who would it be?
Without hesitation it would be The Beatles. Seeing John Lennon and Paul McCartney perform together would have been incredible.
A very close second would be Queen.
Q: What was your first car?
A Peugeot 306 – black, 1.4 litre, with nearly 100,000 miles on it. It definitely had character! At one point I even had to connect the battery directly to the starter motor to get it going.
It was a proper first car experience.
Q: Tea or coffee?
Coffee.
Q: Early bird or night owl?
These days I’m definitely becoming more of an early bird.
Q: Dream travel destination?
I’d love to do a road trip across America from east to west, maybe following parts of the old Route 66. That would be an amazing experience.
Q: Finally – how would you hope a Lightcliffe customer would describe you after visiting?
I’d hope customers would say I’m interested, engaged and courteous. For me the most important thing is listening to customers and helping them find the car that genuinely suits their needs.
If you would like to speak with Kav or the team about your next new car, the team at Lightcliffe Škoda Warrington would be delighted to help.