Chicane’s Newcastle born and bred chairman Gary Barak wins auspicious aftermarket award

Chicane is delighted to announce that Gary Barak has been voted “Person of the Year 2011” by one of the Automotive Industry’s leading media titles. The list of nominees for the annual award always features an impressive selection of names of respected aftermarket people and this year was no exception. “It came as a complete surprise and for once I was genuinely lost for words!” remarks a delighted Gary. “Chicane’s position as PR & marketing consultants usually means that we take a back seat to our clients, but this is an award that I am so proud of and will treasure forever.” Gary was brought up in Whitley Bay, close to Newcastle upon Tyne and studied at The King’s School, Tynemouth. He now lives with his actress wife Katy (aka Aunty Pam in Coronation Street) and family in Ealing, London. He added, “I have served the automotive aftermarket both in publishing and PR for over 25 years and l love it. I’m passionate about our industry and it has always been rewarding - in tough times as well as in good ones. For the past 12 years my company, Chicane, has represented a variety of clients to support and boost their efforts. As the market changes, we also have to adapt and this, in particular, is what I find so challenging and inspiring. “My business partner, Simon Maurice, also from the North East (Gosforth) and I have been closest of friends for most of my 47 years and it’s a very special relationship. We founded Chicane because we truly felt we had something to offer and hopefully this further endorses what we do. The small team we have at Chicane is a very talented group of individuals - who I also consider to be good friends - and I simply love working closely with them. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who voted for me and especially our clients – old and new, without whom, we wouldn’t be here. Of course, I am also extremely grateful to the media for continuing to accept Chicane releases and other client supported issues! “I and my colleagues at Chicane work closely with BEN, our industry charity, which gave my mother tremendous assistance a while ago during her last years and I will make a donation to BEN in recognition of my award. People forget that BEN is not just for everyone involved in the automotive industry, but for their immediate families too and while I hope the call for BEN’s support is never needed by anyone, BEN is always there for us so we need to support it whenever possible”. ENDS For further details relating to this press information and high-resolution images, please contact Gary Barak at Chicane on: 01753 650004 or e-mail: gary@chicanemarketing.co.uk

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