Julian Milner, joint group managing director at Alton Cars, is retiring from the award-winning bodyshop business that he helped grow after joining the finance team in the late 1990s.
Alton Cars, founded in 1979 and headquartered in Leeds, is a leading independent bodyshop group with 16 BSI-accredited sites across the North East, North West and Midlands. It was twice named Bodyshop Magazine’s Independent Bodyshop of the Year – in 2008 and 2009.
Julian Milner retires
Milner and co-MD Neilson Jones have successfully run the business together since 2022, when they led a management buyout from the group’s founder Tony Parish.
At the beginning of 2025, Milner decided it was the right moment for him to step down with a view to spending more time with his family. Jones and Milner then set about finding a solution that would allow Milner to exit the business.
Jones, who will now become sole group managing director, told Bodyshop Magazine that the solution came in the form of Sun European Partners LLP, which has recently invested in Alton Cars.
Jones said as Julian Milner retires: “We are delighted to announce that Alton Cars has taken investment from Sun European Partners, which will now allow Julian to retire from the business. Julian has been with the business since 1998, initially starting as the financial controller and quickly moving into the role of finance director, and later becoming managing director.
“Julian and I led the MBO back in 2022, buying out the original founder. Julian has been an integral part of the business for so many years now, and he will be sadly missed by all of the team here at Alton. The whole Alton family really do wish him the very best, and we all hope he enjoys his early retirement.”
Continuing growth strategy
Sun European Partners is a leading private investment advisory firm which says it is “focused on partnering with outstanding management teams to accelerate value creation”. It is recognised for its investment and operational experience in the services sector and, since 1995, affiliates of Sun European have invested in more than 550 companies worldwide.
Alexander Wyndham, managing director at Sun European Partners, said: “Alton have a great business, with an experienced management team in place and who have shown the ability to grow the business over a number of years whilst delivering exceptional customer service. We are excited to now be on this journey with them and to help them with their continued growth.”
Jones added: “We are delighted to welcome Sun European as our new partner and look forward to working together to continue our growth strategy. Sun European’s track record in the services sector makes them the ideal investor to support our continued growth.”
