HEREFORDSHIRE Audi and Volkswagen retailer, South Hereford Garages Ltd., has been sold by its founder and retiring chairman, Bob Tabor, to two of the firm's existing directors.

The company's new owners, Shane Powell and Charlie Richards, who have both been with South Hereford Garages for more than 20 years, will continue to be supported by an established and experienced management team.

Under the revised board structure previous chief executive officer Shane Powell, becomes managing director with Charlie Richards as sales director.

Colin Barker, who began his career at South Hereford as a parts advisor in 1988, joins the board as after sales director responsible for the group's parts, service and bodyshop operations across all sites including the firm's recently opened PDI Centre.

Dennis Loynes, who has been with the company since 1984, remains as finance director and company secretary.

At senior management level Richard Bullock has been promoted from business manager to general manager at South Hereford Audi.

Established in 1973 South Hereford Garages now employs more than 170 people. It sells Audi and Volkswagen cars, Volkswagen commercial vehicles and has two specialist trade parts centres covering Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Mid Wales.

Bob Tabor said: "I stood down operationally at the end of 2004 and have taken a 'back seat' to give Shane and Charlie the opportunity to run the business.

"They have proved themselves to be more than capable of taking the company forward to achieve even greater success."