James Leese

Background

About James Leese

I lead the UK arm of Impel – an AI platform helping automotive dealers and OEMs deliver better, more profitable customer journeys. Impel’s technology supports every stage of the car-buying lifecycle. By combining behavioural data with conversational AI, we help brands drive stronger engagement, higher conversion, and smarter sales, marketing, and service experiences. Our platform has influenced over $7 billion in revenue across 51 countries – and we’re just getting started in the UK. Before Impel, I spent sixteen years at Cox Automotive Europe, most recently as Chief Customer Officer, leading sales and customer experience across multiple markets. I’ve held board-level roles for over a decade and consistently delivered strong commercial and customer outcomes – including ownership of £200 million in annual revenue. I built a 3* Best Companies-rated team and was recognised as a 3* leader. I believe in people over process, clarity over jargon, and that every customer interaction is a chance to earn trust. I’m passionate about building high-performing teams, driving growth, and doing the right thing – for customers, colleagues and the planet. If you’re an OEM or dealer exploring how AI can enhance your retail business, or if you run a dealer website, platform, marketplace, or auction platform and are interested in how Impel can improve your customers’ experience, please feel free to connect or send me a message - I’m always happy to chat.