Meet the McMillan Specialist Cars Team

With over 40 years as a Porsche specialist, George McMillan has an international reputation for automotive knowledge. With his vast experience, he has been involved in applying his knowledge in education and ran the Toyota Academy at Northern Regional College, regarded by many as the ‘most advanced motor-training centre in Ireland’. Based at the Toyota Training Academy in Burnaston, George has also trained Toyota Technicians throughout the UK and from the main Toyota Training centre in Zaventem, Brussels, lectured at various Toyota locations throughout Europe working on various projects in Belgium, Portugal, Spain and France.

George also worked for many years on the Toyota/Lexus Technician & Apprentice Accreditation programme, a framework for which Motor Vehicle Technicians can work to & achieve an appreciation for courses attended/passed etc. The IMI (Institute of the Motor Industry) ATA (Automotive Technician Accreditation) programme is closely based on this.

He has been obsessed with motorsport since, as a boy, he collected and devoured car magazines, progressively focusing on the technical content. The obvious career choice was taken and he joined the local motor industry. Beyond the day job he took part throughout Ireland in auto-tests and rallies, many with his wife Fiona as navigator. His engagement with auto-testing continues to this day. While still taking part in the Irish Autotest Championships, he now helps the sport thrive through McMillan Specialist Cars annual sponsorships of events.  

Now heavily involved with hybrid, electric and emerging technologies and with other makers, in any year he will travel to many countries, road-testing new models, getting a forensic knowledge of their details and preparing the service directions for the dealerships.

Sean Donnelly has been involved in the Retail Motor trade all of his career and has operated in every aspect of the business.

Starting as an apprentice Motor Vehicle Technician at 16, Sean gained experience in every position in the service department, from Service Advisor to becoming Service Manager at the age of 23. In 1998 he moved to Charles Hurst where he took on the role of Service Manager for Land Rover. 

In 2001 Sean took on the role of General Manager in the Accident Repair Centre. Then housed in the large Charles Hurst complex on Boucher Road in Belfast, the Centre was moved to an offsite facility in Dunmurry. Here Sean managed the transfer from using the very toxic two-pack cellulose paint system to the much more environmentally friendly water-based system.

After four years of group accident management, Sean then returned to Land Rover as Aftersales Manager and oversaw the business winning many accolades for profit return and customer service within the group. 

After 16 years with the Charles Hurst Group, Sean joined the Donnelly Group as Head of Business at JLR in Dungannon. He oversaw all aspects of that business with great success, culminating in the winning of UK Retailer of The Year in 2019.

Sean joined McMillan Specialist Cars as General Manager in 2020, bringing his 33 years of knowledge and skills with him. This has helped George develop the business even further, branching out into new and used car sales, improving both our levels of customer service and levels of sales through the workshop and parts departments

Rachael began her Apprenticeship and gained her qualifications while with leading independent The Auto Doc in Larne. Like George, Rachael has a passion for competitive motorsport, acting as an event service technician throughout Europe with rally teams including McConnell Motor Sport.

Rachael joined McMillan Specialist Cars in 2018 and excelled on the workshop floor, taking on all forms of jobs ranging from routine servicing to engine rebuilds and restoration work on some of the classics we see coming through our shop.

It became clear that Rachael’s meticulous attention to detail made her the ideal person to oversee the quality of all the repairs leaving our workshop. She now ensures that each vehicle gets our bespoke quality control check and test to ensure that your car leaves us in perfect working order.

Based at the Toyota Training Academy Burnaston but has trained Toyota Technicians throughout the UK as well as a time spent lecturing other Toyota/Lexus countries from the main Toyota Training centre in Zaventem Brussels. Time has been spent at various Toyota locations throughout Europe working on various projects, in Brussels, Portugal, Spain & France.

She has been working with Toyota/Lexus on technical training projects ranging from new model training launches (all Lexus & Toyota models for the past 20yrs) on subjects as diverse as Hybrid design, Common Rail Diesel systems (D4D), Diesel Particulate & Diesel Particulate Nox Reduction filter systems (DPNR)(SCR) Direct Injection Petrol(D4), Dual Variable Valve Timing VVTi / VVTLi), Throttle Less Petrol engines (D4) Dual Injector Petrol engines GT86 (D4S) Sequential Manual Transmission systems (SMT) (PDK) to name a few. 

She has also worked for many years on the Toyota/Lexus Technician & Apprentice Accreditation programme, a framework for which Motor Vehicle Technicians can work to & achieve an appreciation for courses attended/passed etc. The IMI (Institute of the Motor Industry) ATA (Automotive Technician Accreditation) programme is closely based on this.

Her motorsport involvement has played a large part in her career relating many lessons to motorsport preparation & experiences. Currently competing in North & Southern Irish Autotest Championships.

Before starting in the motor trade, Tom had a spell as a footballer playing for both his country, Northern Ireland U15 and for Glasgow Rangers. Tom then spent four years with the Rangers before returning to Northern Ireland to join his local, Club Ballymena Utd where he was involved in the squad that reached the Irish Cup Final in 1989.

He then moved to Ballyclare and captained the Ballyclare Comrades Football team which he still supports as a season ticket holder at the Club today. He also enjoys coaching at an amateur level and completed his coaching badge with the IFA and currently holds a C-level licence.

Tom started his career in the motor trade in 1989 with the Volvo Dealer in Antrim as a parts advisor and worked his way up to After Sales Manager, a position he held with Greers for 20 years. During those years Tom and his team were regular high achievers, consistently finishing in the top 25 for customer service amongst a group of 235 dealers.

Tom joined McMillan Specialist Cars in 2019 and had an immediate positive impact on the business. With his considerable knowledge of the parts business, he has been essential in helping us streamline our own parts department and make our process much more efficient.

Tom’s experience as a leader in customer service and on the pitch has played a major part in improving the customer experience we provide. He says his main goal in working with us is to ensure the customer has an outstanding experience when visiting us and receives great value for money.