Walkinshaw Automotive Group has appointed Joel Stoddart as managing director, replacing Tim Jackson who is retiring from Walkinshaw and Holden Special Vehicles after almost 11 years with the company, more than six years as managing director.

Walkinshaw Automotive is to begin production on right-hand drive engineering of GM vehicles, mainly the Chevrolet Silverado, under the General Motors Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) name.

Mr Stoddart has been an engineer with Holden Special Vehicles for 22 years. His previous role with the company was as chief operating officer.

Mr Jackson was in charge of HSV when it saw record sales and began remanufacturing Chevrolet vehicles to right-hand drive after Holden closed local manufacturing operations in 2017.

He was one of the key people in Walkinshaw’s contract with GMSV.

By Neil Dowling