Emma Mason then and now – how colleagues have helped transform one Cox Automotive team member

Ever-helpful Emma Mason has been having an impact at Cox Automotive since she joined seven-and-a-half years ago.

Working as Personal Assistant to Sales Director Sam Panayides, Emma also plays an instrumental role in organising many regular events throughout the year, including Women with Drive and Cox Automotive Europe’s participation in the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) event on the other side of the Atlantic.

Making her mark 

At the most recent Women with Drive event, where the 2024’s Barbara Cox “Woman of the Year” was unveiled in front of an audience of 80 attendees and a further 100 online, Emma had a go at taking to the stage and presenting alongside Cox Automotive colleague Hayley Westley. She says it was something she couldn’t have thought of doing when she started work at the company.

“Even a year ago, if you’d asked me, ‘Would you go on stage?’ I would’ve said ‘no way!’”, Emma says. “But through working at Cox Automotive and with the support of colleagues, I’ve worked on myself and grown in confidence. No doubt working on Women with Drive events and other happenings has spurred me on and given me an extra dose of belief in myself.”

Before joining Cox Automotive, Emma was a PA at a shipping freight company near her home in Essex. When that role was made redundant, she quickly spotted the opportunity to work in automotive, a sector she admits she knew little about.

She says: “When I applied for the job at Cox Automotive, it wasn’t exactly a PA role, it was more helping an existing PA with admin and other duties. I saw an opportunity to prove I was more than capable of taking on more responsibility. And I think that was why I eventually got the job I was looking for. Since joining, I’ve worked for a handful of leaders and with Sam for nearly two years, and I absolutely love my job.

What does Emma's day-to-day look like working at Cox Automotive?

“It’s difficult to say what my job entails as each day is completely different. There’s the typical PA duties such as diary management but there’s also a real mix of events and tasks to get involved with. And to be honest, that’s why I enjoy it so much. Only recently, I was helping organise our annual golf day, doing my best to ensure attending customers were happy.

“I never come into work and think ‘oh no, not the same thing again’. That variety in my role makes it so enjoyable.”

Despite having worked in the sector for almost eight years, Emma admits that she is no petrolhead and says it always amazes friends who think she should know everything about cars because of her job. 

“I have been learning about automotive since my first day,” she says. “And that learning continues today. Cox Automotive is such a big company that it takes time to understand everything that it does and how it all fits together.

“When people ask me what Cox Automotive does, it’s not an easy question to answer as we do so much. I usually say that a big part of what we do is buying and selling cars, but it’s really so much more than that."

What does Emma enjoy most about working at Cox Automotive?

“The people. In my time here I’ve constantly found that my colleagues get you through tough times and have helped me remember just how much I enjoy my job." 

One of the most satisfying aspects of Emma’s role is her involvement in the Women with Drive Employee Resource Group (ERG).

She says: “Women with Drive exists to inspire women in automotive to come together to make change, empower one another and improve things for women generally. As well as celebrating women working in the sector, we also make practical things happen. For instance, we had a female colleague who thought something should be done about the fact that women were paying for sanitary products in the lavatories. After consultation with our Supply Chain colleagues, sanitary items across all our UK sites are free. That’s concrete proof that women can come together to change things for the better.”

Emma thinks the ERGs at Cox Automotive are a fantastic way to raise awareness of many issues.  

“Our Neurodiversity ERG is a great example,” she says. “It’s made me keenly aware of what neurodiversity is and it’s helped a great deal with how I now think about things. For example, when planning an event, certain adjustments including a properly prepared agenda can make a huge difference to people who are neurodivergent.”

Emma says her proudest moment was organising her first trip for Cox Automotive’s board members and a large group of customers to the NADA event in Las Vegas. This involved handling all the travel arrangements for the party, planning a full week’s itinerary and coordinating all the elements.

“I hate to sound big-headed, but I think I did a good job. I think I made my mark, which is so important. For me, making your mark is all about doing something that makes a difference, even it’s a small thing for just one person in their life or work.”

Emma is kept on her toes outside of work by two energetic labradors named Dexter and Shine. She’s also an avid theatregoer and keen baker.

Asked if she has any ambitions she’d like to fulfil, Emma says one dream would be a secondment in Australia, near family in Sydney. And, during her time at Cox Automotive, which key moment stands out?

She says: “The biggest thing has been how people have helped me to believe in myself more. The Emma from seven years ago compared to the Emma now. There’s a huge difference. Now, I’m more confident. I believe in myself and I do a good job. That is largely down to the people I’ve met and worked with here and I’m eternally grateful for that.”

If working at Cox Automotive sounds interesting to you, explore more about working at Cox Automotive and careers here.