David Blackhall

AUTOMOTIVE Holdings Group (AHG) has appointed David Blackhall to its board just days after the highly respected corporate advisor and automotive industry leader announced he was stepping back from his role as CEO of the Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA).

As previously reported, Mr Blackhall’s contracted position at the AADA is concluding in June 2019.

Mr Blackhall, the man who has brought the dealers of Australian firmly into the focus of the nation’s politicians and regulators at a critical time for car retailing, will then enter a transition period of reduced involvement as a consultant.

As part of the transition, the AADA has appointed James Voortman, executive director of communications and policy, to the newly created position of deputy CEO. Mr Voortman will continue to report to Mr Blackhall until June 30, 2019.

Brian Savage, AADA executive director of operations, has been appointed to the newly created position of chief operating officer. Mr Savage will also continue to report to the CEO for the same period.

All other secretariat positions and reporting relationships remain unaltered.

Mr Blackhall, 70, told GoAutoNews Premium: “I have said that I will stay until the end of my contract and work on more of a consultancy basis from the end of June until December this year but, by 2020, I don’t want to be working as hard as I have been.

James Voortman

“We have some very capable people and we will be working on their development over the next year.

“But I have said to Terry Keating (AADA chairman) that if he needs things to be done, he knows I will not be just walking away. I can certainly assist. I don’t want to lose contact with the industry, but with my family commitments here and overseas, we need more flexibility than this job provides right now.

“So we will do it in a staged and controlled manner and make sure that none of the crockery gets broken along the way.”

Mr Keating said in a statement: “David has been an outstanding CEO for AADA. AADA is delighted that David will continue in a consultancy and advisory capacity to the AADA for a further six months, until 31 December, 2019.

“During his almost four-year tenure he has guided the association through a period of unprecedented regulatory and legislative change. “Whilst some of these regulatory changes are still being negotiated, David has agreed with the board to continue to assist us through to fruition on these important matters during 2019.

“We thank David for his leadership and look forward to continuing close ties through to the end of the year. He will be concentrating on the delivery of the Automotive Code.”

Mr Keating said the secretariat changes announced were in line with a leadership transition plan developed and approved by the AADA board last year.

“These arrangements are aimed at allowing James and Brian to progressively assume their wider duties during the next four months under David’s guidance and mentorship,” he said.

Brian Savage

Mr Keating said the AADA board would make an announcement on a full-time replacement for Mr Blackhall as CEO as soon as possible.

The company expects to make further announcements about the organisation of the secretariat in early July.

Meanwhile, his appointment as a director of AHG is a coup for the dealer group. Mr Blackhall’s experience covers all quarters of the automotive compass.

He was previously managing director of Jaguar Land Rover Asia Pacific, which includes Australia and New Zealand, from 2004 to 2015.

Mr Blackhall has also been a non‐executive director of the privately held Ross House Investments, which controls the Stillwell Motor Group, and served for six years on the board of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).

He held senior executive positions with Ford in the USA and Taiwan, and has direct dealership experience as a dealer principal and owner with numerous franchises.

Mr Blackhall holds a commerce degree from the University of Queensland, an MBA from the University of Melbourne and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

AHG managing director John McConnell said Mr Blackhall is “highly respected across the industry and has led the AADA through a period of seismic change for franchised dealers, including gaining bi‐partisan political support for a dedicated automotive franchising code”.

“His vast experience as an automotive retailer and the respect he has earned in his dealings with manufacturers, politicians and regulators will be invaluable to the board and the company,” he said.

Mr Blackhall said he was looking forward to making a contribution.

“AHG is the largest automotive retailer in Australasia and is well placed not only to maintain its position but to lead the industry in the myriad changes across mobility solutions, data analytics and adjacent opportunities,” he said. “I look forward to contributing to its future success.”

Mr Blackhall’s appointment will be subject to ratification by shareholders at the company’s 2019 annual general meeting in November.

By John Mellor