Winners 2024

Government affairs 2024

Eman Martin-Vignerte has been leading Bosch UK’s lobbying team since 2012. She joined the automotive supplier, the world’s largest, in 1999 to work on software and hardware development, starting with common-rail diesel engines, but then went into sales, rising to the position of sales and business development director.

Born in Qatar, Martin-Vignerte has a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Paderborn and a degree in medical equipment engineering from Ulm University, both in Germany.

Alongside her role at Bosch, she is also chair of the CBI (Confederation of British Industries) South East council and she is a board member of UK5G, a non-profit organisation dedicated to the promotion of research, collaboration and the commercial application of 5G in the UK. In March, she joined green transport and energy non-profit organisation Cenex as a non-executive board member. She is also a long-time advisor to the urban mobility project Harmony 2020.

Government affairs 2024 nominees

Nicola Walker, Ford

Nicola Walker has been Ford of Britain’s link to the government since 2016 and was promoted to the company’s executive board in 2021. Successes in her role include securing government support to bring Ford's £230 million electric-drive investment to the Halewood gearbox factory along with ensuring Ford’s needs were met in post-Brexit relations with Turkey, where Ford builds vans. Walker joined Ford from the CBI (Confederation of British Industry), where she rose to the position of policy director.

Franziska Rothe, Volkswagen AG

Franziska Rothe has been in charge of the London office of VW’s global government affairs department since 2013, reporting directly to the Group’s government affairs department in Germany. She moved to the position from her previous role as PR manager for Bentley covering western Europe. Prior to that Franziska lobbied for the VW Group at a European Union level.

Hayley Pells, Institute of the Motor Industry

Hayley Pells is the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI)’s point person, making clear to government the views of its members working in the motor industry, specifically within independent garages. She was promoted in 2023 from policy manager after joining the body in 2021 from the Federation of Small Businesses, where she was the policy champion for automotive. Hayley is also owner/operator of the MOT test and service centre Avia Autos in Bridgend, Wales. Since January Hayley has been on the executive committee of the Industry and Parliament Trust, an educational charity for British Parliament and business.

Sally Hepton, Bentley

Sally Hepton has led both the government lobbying and corporate social responsibility functions for Bentley since 2013 when she moved to the luxury brand from her previous job as head of UK media relations for Shell. Prior to that Hepton worked as corporate and government affairs manager for Toyota in Europe. Hepton is also a board member of the Northern Automotive Alliance.