As the new managing director, he is expected to draw up a strategy to raise Farmer Autocare’s growth rate.

Currently Farmer Autocare has 13 outlets despite predicting that it would have 20 by spring 2004. Rather than working as Farmer employees, managers are encouraged to invest alongside the tycoon in up to three local branches with a total capital of £100,000 each.

Kidd previously worked as a consultant following 20 years in various roles at the Kwik-Fit group. He is the second managing director at Farmer Autocare and follows David Goodyear, who after left nine months for personal reasons.

Farmer Autocare has five branches in Edinburgh, with three in the rest of the Lothians, three in the Glasgow area and one each in Falkirk and Fife. Many of its employees moved across from Kwik-Fit when Farmer sold the chain.