AADA elects Blackhall as chair

By Neil Dowling on 22nd November 2021 Personnel Articles AADA

DAVID Blackhall has been elected as chair of the board and independent director of the Australian Automotive Dealers Association (AADA).

He replaces Terry Keating, who has chaired the AADA for the past six years. Mr Keating was been acknowledged for his leadership and guidance, as well as playing a significant role in making AADA the peak dealer body in Australia that is recognised by dealers, other industry bodies, regulators, and the government.

The AADA said Mr Blackhall has excellent industry experience through a long and successful career in the automotive industry.

Mr Blackhall was CEO of the AADA between 2016 and 2019, during which time he made some significant gains for the organisation and its members.

Since 2019, Mr Blackhall has continued to provide valuable support to the AADA and its members as an independent consultant, supporting the AADA in its fight for better automotive franchising regulations.

In farewelling Mr Keating from his duties as chair, the AADA said he was instrumental in convincing the dealer councils to commit to an adequate level of funding for the AADA.

He has presided over several major achievements, including the hard-fought reforms to automotive franchising laws and the reversal of plans to allow for parallel imports of new vehicles, to name a few.

Mr Keating’s time as chair came on the back of a lifetime of service to the automotive industry, including roles as the president of MTA-NSW, a director of the MTAA, chair of the Ford National Dealer Council and chair of the BMW National Dealer Council.

Mr Keating will be formally honoured for his contribution to the AADA and the automotive industry at the AADA chair’s dinner in March 2022.

Separately, the AADA has also welcomed two new directors to its board with Edwina Gilbert, who is executive chair of the Phil Gilbert Motor Group, joining as a director for New South Wales and David Reynolds, managing director of the Steinborner Automotive Group, joining as the director for South Australia.

The AADA said both new directors have extensive experience in the automotive industry and have served on the Australian Motor Dealer Council. Their appointments will take effect immediately.