On a brand new adventure: Avon City Ford’s John Luxton
After more than 30 years of brand loyalty, John Luxton, Principal Dealer at one of Canterbury’s most iconic car dealerships, is stepping down. He reminisces with Metropol Deputy Editor Nina Tucker about what made it count.
The legacy John leaves at Avon City Ford, in his retirement, equates to that of a family, a strong team of individuals bound together by a common commitment to their brand. There is no doubt John has been instrumental in making the Sockburn roundabout site what it is today, a dealership that new Principal Dealer Richard Burns readily inherited on 1 January.
He says that with the power of Ford’s products and the incredible people who serve on his team, “It’s hard to see how it can’t go from strength to strength.” Some 35 years ago, John joined the Ford Motor Company, and has been true to it ever since. Years spent in management across South Island branches eventually led him to the driving seat at Avon City Ford in 1998, his growth he labels “organic”.
John smiles, gratified, reflecting the era’s end. “It’s been fantastic.” His decades-long loyalty to the Avon City brand is simply defined: “people, customers, brand.” Nothing made itself known in our conversation more than his praise for the team. “We all sing from the same hymn sheet. We all believe in the same thing. We share the same vision,” he explains. With high loyalty and low turnover, it’s clear his theory is true.
The 100-strong team commits day in, day out to the job – to evolve – and put every effort into new and returning customers. In close second-favourite is that customer base – one he’s fostered alongside his team for decades. “Customer satisfaction, consumer experience, is hugely important to us.” John slowly built the brand into the picture of resilience. Throughout the Christchurch earthquakes, Avon City Ford’s doors remained open. The workload was huge and it was something John’s team faced front on. “We kept people on the road,” John remembers. He references again his work family, “The team go out of their way to make those things happen.” During Covid-19, essential fleets carried on for those in the community who needed them. Unbreakable, a brand they could count on – that’s what Avon City Ford became to locals. Why? “It’s a lot easier to keep the customer you’ve got than to go out and find new ones.”
Each year has looked different, John says, yet one after the other the team collaborate to reach new heights and win “a multitude of awards”. He tells me one of the best parts of his job is witnessing the evolution of growth across his team. “It’s so nice to see people grow, how they have developed.” He doesn’t buy into the “dictatorship” mentality: through trust and kind mentorship, John thrives when his team does, and naturally “That benefits the business.” John has dedicated years to creating an environment his team love to return to each day. “We want people to succeed.”
John pioneered countless expansions and ventures that proved successful – broadening Avon City Ford’s reach, expertise, staff count – and solidifying their command as an industry leader. “The business has grown in a lot of different areas and we have worked very hard to do that.” John credits a lot of that to his team, a proud look in his eye. “They are skilled, talented, and so strong at looking for business opportunities in different areas.” It’s all made easier through a strong brand – one John is proud to have stuck with throughout his career. “The Ford brand is one of the best brands in the market.”
I question why now came the decision to retire. “Age,” he laughs, before the same sentiment emerges: team. “It’s a great time for someone new to grab the opportunity. To do that with a really strong team to support you is invaluable.” Leaving his second family is bittersweet – yet it’s an opportunity to spend more time with his own. With three grown children living in the United Kingdom, John is eager to get away and spend some quality time with them. He’s looking forward to more travel in general – and time not spent on a plane will likely be on a golf course, in a river with a fishing rod, or on the ski slopes.
Passing the baton down is never easy, yet John can’t wait to watch from afar and cherish what he knows will be ongoing success for the team and business.
New road ahead for Richard Burns
Stepping up to the challenge is Richard Burns, “I just want to continue building on the foundation that John has set.”
He will seek to achieve that while soaking up what Canterbury has to offer with his two young children and a passion for the great outdoors.
Richard, a technician by trade, advanced through his career the traditional way: with hard work, humility, and loyalty. He moved into sales, and then management, running up a dealership in Queenstown and Wānaka for CMC before taking the opportunity to become General Manager at Avon City Ford in July last year.
His tenacity and workmanship mirrored the Canterbury spirit – Richard was well-received and put forward to be John’s predecessor. He’s taking the same enthusiasm he was met with into the year ahead, sharing the year has started strongly across all departments. “Hopefully, it’s a sign of what 2025 will bring.” Lifting the customer experience and rewarding loyal customers and staff are on his hit list. “I’m pretty fortunate to inherit such a strong business with a loyal customer base and long-serving staff.”
