Jim Holder

Jim Holder
Title: Editorial director

Jim is editorial director across Haymarket Automotive’s portfolio of titles, which comprises Autocar plus market-leading brands Car Accessory Trader (CAT), Classic & Sports Car, Move Electric and What Car?, and which has previously included PistonHeads.

He started as a journalist in 1996, working for motorsport titles covering everything from karting and stock car racing through to Formula 1 and the World Rally Championship. This included editing Motorsport News and deputy editing Autosport, and reporting from events during the Michael Schumacher era for every national newspaper, including The Telegraph, Daily Star and Reuters as chief Formula 1 correspondent. 

After more than a decade covering racing and rallying, Jim switched to road cars and the automotive industry, first with What Car? and then Autocar, working initially across their websites before going on to edit both titles. For each brand he oversaw all output from the magazines and websites through to video, social and more.

In September 2015, during the VW emissions scandal, Jim took on a broader role as a well-respected commentator as events unfolded, appearing regularly on BBC television and radio, Channel 4 News, Good Morning Britain and more titles, as well as being sought for comment from all mainstream press outlets. He also appeared at a Parliamentary Select Committee to share his expertise with UK MPs investigating VW’s actions.

Today, as editorial director, Jim helps steer the long-term ambitions of all of Haymarket Automotives brands, including representing the publishing industry as a speaker at numerous events, as well as continuing to interview leading automotive industry executives and deliver test verdicts on new cars. This includes writing a weekly column for the industry-focused Autocar Business channel in print and online.

Jim graduated from Reading University in 1996 with a degree in history. 

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