ONE of the key family members that created Automotive Holdings Group Ltd and saw it expand as a public company until its takeover in 2019, Vern Wheatley, has died.

The Wheatley family ran car dealerships from 1952 when Vern’s father, Sydney, started City Motors Holden in the inner-city Perth suburb of Northbridge.

Vern Wheatley

City Motors expanded and became AHG before listing on the stock exchange in 2005. Syd’s son, Vern, was executive chairman of AHG from 1968 to 1994 to his retirement in 2004, a year before the company floated.

Mr Wheatley ran AHG with associates including managing director (and until 2010, chairman) Bob Branchi.

In 2012 Mr Wheatley shocked AHG management by selling 16.5 per cent of shares to rival AP Eagers (now Eagers Automotive Ltd) for $88 million plus six per cent of shares in AP Eagers.

Eagers absorbed AHG in September 2019.

Mr Wheatley, who was 89, was a life member of the Motor Trade Association of Western Australia and a foundation member of the WA Motor Industry Foundation.

He also supported community organisations including serving as president of local Apex and Rotary clubs. In 2013 he and wife Jo founded the Wheatley Family Foundation which assists a wide variety of causes.

Mr Wheatley’s daughter, Michelle Prater, is a non-executive director of Eagers Automotive.