GERARD Belleville has been appointed as the new chief executive of CoolDrive Auto Parts as long-serving CEO and son of the company’s founder, John Blanchard, moves to the role of executive chairman.

CoolDrive Auto Parts is a family-owned aftermarket parts importer, wholesaler and retailer that started back in 1977 and remains 100 per cent Australian owned.

Around 500 people are employed across the company’s operations, which include 36 stores in Australia and New Zealand and an office in Shanghai.

Mr Belleville joins CoolDrive from an accountancy background, bringing with him experience and credentials from a range of industry sectors.

He was previously an audit partner in a number of chartered accounting firms for 27 years, most recently with Deloitte Australia for 17 years where he held a number of leadership roles.

During his time at Deloitte, Mr Belleville acted for many large business groups, and was also involved in coordinating and leading transaction and advisory services to his clients, which included CoolDrive.

Gerard Belleville

His appointment was precipitated by Mr Blanchard’s role change to executive chair after serving as CEO since 2005 – following in the footsteps of his father WJ Blanchard who established the company in 1977 with his wife Shirley.“Recently, I have been reflecting on the growth of our business, our people and our position in the industry,” said Mr Blanchard.

“I am very proud of what the CoolDrive team has achieved, and I remain focused on our continued growth, not only in size but also in respect of the experience of our team, the quality and presentation of our branches, and the depth and breadth of our brands and products.

“I have also been reflecting on my role and how it aligns with the changing needs of the business, alongside my desire to expand the Blanchard Racing Team, prioritise spending more time with my family and enjoy travel and interests outside of work.

“To this end, I have made the decision to step into the role of executive chairman of CoolDrive Auto Parts and I am pleased to appoint Gerard Belleville as my successor and the new CEO.

“Gerard is already intimately familiar with CoolDrive, having been an advisor to the Blanchard family and the CoolDrive board for more than 15 years. Alongside Gerard’s existing knowledge of the business and the automotive industry, he has significant experience with large businesses, including family-owned companies, and the culture attached to them.

“The continued growth of CoolDrive brings increasing complexity and Gerard will bring a new layer of expertise to provide the support and focus for our management team. I have full confidence in Gerard and know that CoolDrive Auto Parts will be in the very best hands.”