Daventry, UK, 28 October 2025 – The National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA) held its 96th Annual Dinner, sponsored by Maritime Cargo Services, together with the prestigious 12th Tyre Industry Awards on Thursday 9th October at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Milton Keynes. Renowned television presenter, Mark Durden-Smith, expertly hosted the evening alongside NTDA Chief Executive Officer Ian Andrew and National Chairman Martin O’Brian. The highly anticipated event attracted approximately 570 distinguished guests from across the tyre industry, gathering to celebrate innovation, excellence and outstanding achievements within the sector.
Hankook Tyre UK was awarded “Tyre Industry Environmental and Sustainable Solution of the Year” sponsored by The Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights.This accolade underscores the increasing emphasis within the industry on sustainability and responsible business operations. The judges commented “Hankook’s view is that the future of mobility extends beyond Electric Vehicles. True innovations mean embedding sustainability, circularity, and responsibility into every aspect of automotive manufacturing — including tyre production. Hankook has invested heavily in using recycled and renewable materials alongside energy-efficient production processes, receiving global recognition by Time Magazine and Statista as one of the 'World’s Most Sustainable Companies of 2025.” This is the second time Hankook has won this reputable award, previously taking home the trophy in 2023.
Chang Yool Han, Managing Director of Hankook Tyre UK expressed his delight at the achievement: “We are honoured to have received the Tyre Industry Environmental and Sustainable Solution of the Year award - a powerful testament to Hankook’s ongoing efforts to drive sustainability-focused innovation and strategic leadership. As a dedicated team here in the UK, we are passionate about advancing these initiatives, and it is deeply gratifying to have our commitments recognised by our industry peers.”
The evening also provided the opportunity for Hankook to sponsor and present the NTDA Chairman’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Tyre Industry to Norman Kerr, Managing Director of Kerr’s Tyre Group, in recognition of his longstanding active and passionate membership of the NTDA. Kerr’s Tyres has played a visible role in the UK & Northern Ireland tyre retail and service sector—under his stewardship, the business has grown and supported wider industry-initiatives. Alongside the award, he was also made an honorary lifetime member of the NTDA – underscoring the depth of his commitment.
The success of the evening highlights the NTDA’s dedication to fostering excellence and sustainability across the tyre sector, celebrating the individuals and organisations driving positive change and progress within the industry.
Caption (L-R): Chris Ball, The Master of the Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights, Chang Yool Han, Managing Director Hankook Tyre UK, Zoe Baldwin, Marketing Manager Hankook Tyre UK, Martin O’Brian, NTDA National Chairman
