About Europa Academy
Automotive Faculty
Europa Academy is about developing potential, building expertise and preparing for opportunity.
Europa Academy management team are vastly experienced, recognised and accredited in their fields of expertise.
Automotive
Ron Cella
Operations Director
Ron commenced his motor industry training in New York, before moving to Florida to advance his career in automotive retailing. While in Orlando, he helped design, build and manage one of the largest Ford after-sales operations in the United States and served as President of the Central Florida Parts and Service Association.
Ron has participated in numerous auto industry technical, management and leadership development programmes in North America. His involvement with Glencullen Distributors since 1998 has given him a pivotal role in all aspects of after-sales development including, the creation of expert technical training courses.
Ron can be contacted at rcella@glencullen.ie
Mark Richardson
Training & Recruitment Director
Mark has almost 20 years of experience in Ireland and the United Kingdom, and has worked in selling and management roles with leading automotive brands including Renault, Toyota, BMW, Rolls Royce and Porsche. Today, Mark works with Ireland's leading Motor Distributors developing their businesses and their Dealer Networks.
Mark's training career commenced with a period working with Dale Carnegie Training and since 1998 he has been Director of a Training Institute, where he has designed and developed a ground-breaking training programme for Sales Specialists, aimed at creating a new breed of professional sales person. He is widely regarded as a one of Ireland's top training professionals who brings incredible energy and passion to every project he engages with and has a tremendous ability to bring the very best out of people at every level. He is also highly regarded for his recruitment and interview skills, with a exceptional track record of identifying and developing talent.
A former Executive Board Director of a National Company, Mark is an experienced professional who also works closely with National/ International Corporations and SMEs, developing their people and their businesses.
Mark can be contacted at mark@europaacademy.com +353 872 934564
George Graham
Technical Training Manager
George has 16 years of technical experience in the motor industry, qualifying as a Master Technician in 2002. In 2005 George joined the Europa Academy technical training team and qualified with distinction through the Irish Institute of Training and Development. He is also a FAS registered trainer, qualified at International level as a Technical Train the Trainer and has successfully delivered Master Technician Training programmes to technicians from countries including Ireland, the UK, Greece and Cyprus.
George is also responsible for running the Europa Academy Technical Training Department and is contactable at ggraham@europaacademy.com
Associate Faculty
Richard Owen, BSc, BA
Business Development Specialist
A mechanical engineer with over 20 years experience, Richard has occupied senior positions in a variety of motor industry environments including extended periods with Citroën UK and the Lex Motor Group. Richard has been at the forefront of motor industry training in the car, light commercial and heavy goods vehicles industry for some 17 years and he now specialises in management training and after-sales personnel development in the UK and Ireland.
Cathy Comerford
Training & Development Specialist
Cathy has over 15 years experience in sales including 7 years as a highly successful Business manager with the Windsor Motor Group in Dublin. Cathy joined Europa Academy in September 2006, having qualified as a trainer through the Irish Institute of Training & Development and having achieved a certificate in Consumer Credit.
Since then, she has trained Business Managers at all levels and has worked directly in supporting independent dealers, major motor groups and lending agencies, to achieve greater profit and success from Finance & Insurance (F&I) departments nationwide.