Sid Cetindag

SID Cetindag, the dealer principal of Binks Ford and the Gasmak Group, has been elected chairman of the Victorian Automobile Dealers Association (VADA) for 2019-2020.

Mr Cetindag has been DP at Binks Ford, which has branches at Deer Park and Footscray in Melbourne’s inner west, since May 2018.

He was general manager of Lexus of Chatswood from 2005 to 2013 and was dealer principal of Suttons Waitara, also in Sydney’s north, from 2013 to 2014.

He was appointed general manager of the Gasmak Motor Group in 2014.

Gasmak Pty Ltd was established in June 2012. It is the sister company of Gas Motors, a company that was founded in March 2003 with the acquisition of Brighton Toyota and Lexus of Brighton.

Gasmak includes Ford, Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Fiat Professional and Abarth.

In announcing Mr Cetindag’s appointment, the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC) said in a bulletin to members: “VADA is indeed fortunate to have the benefit of Sid’s contemporary, strategic and critical thinking capabilities available to help guide us through the next year.”

The VADA also noted “the successful tenure of outgoing VADA chairwoman Sharon Pask” of the Driveco Group.

Michael Beamish’s Driveco group consists of Frankston Toyota, Cranbourne Toyota and Peninsula Skoda, as well as a Frankston light-commercial centre.

The VADA bulletin said that Ms Pask “was a trailblazer”.

“Never before has your industry association tackled such big issues and borne such great results for the benefit of dealers as have been evident under Sharon’s tenure at VADA,” the association said.

“To have the drive to tackle and effect change on cybercars, PPSR reform, franchising code reform and exemptions granted under Duties Act in relation to SDVs are some of the many legacies of Sharon’s tenure.”

Ms Pask will remain on the VADA executive committee, chairwoman of VACC Women in Automotive and an integral member of the VACC executive board.

“VADA members owe Sharon a debt of gratitude,” the bulletin said.

By John Mellor