ONE of Australia’s key automotive business leaders has called time with the CEO of the Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce announcing his retirement.

Geoff Gwilym, who has led the VACC for the past 10 years and reinforced its position as one of the biggest and most secure associations in Australia, said “it’s time for a change of leadership at VACC”.

“It’s particularly timely given a new executive board is being formed through a member ballot,” he said.

Geoff Gwilym

Mr Gwilym has spent most of his working life in the industry and this experience has brought much talent and capability to VACC, with government and industry linkages extending nationally and internationally.

Since returning to VACC in 2014, having previously served there in the early 2000s, he worked closely with the board to restructure the chamber’s governance arrangements; build a viable commercial income stream; and ultimately create a new home for VACC in its new North Melbourne premises.

Working closely with the members, the association has grown its membership and has delivered on a range of state and national policy initiatives.

Mr Gwilym will complete his term at VACC in the view that the association has the capability and resources to advocate and lobby for the industry for the next 100 years, and more.

He said he extended “great thanks to the VACC Executive Board for their trust in his management and direction and also the staff at VACC who have been the catalyst for many of the changes that have been won for the industry”

He said he hoped his mantra for workplace ethics – “If the work you are doing doesn’t have a direct and positive impact on a member, stop doing it” – at VACC will be assumed by his successor.

VACC president Chris Hummer extended his thanks and appreciation to Mr Gwilym for his immense contribution to the chamber and automotive industry more broadly.“Geoff has been an outstanding CEO,” Mr Hummer said.

“On behalf of the VACC board, I would like to acknowledge and thank his tireless work advocating for the automotive retail industry.

“It has been deeply appreciated. He will be leaving VACC in a strong position, ready for the next chapter.”