Name Mark Bernhard
Company GM Holden
Position Chairman &
Managing Director
HQ Port Melbourne, Victoria
Employees 11,000P
laying a considerable role in the incubation of the Australian
automobile industry, GM Holden has experienced a remarkable
array of record peaks and challenging drops throughout the past
three decades. Founded by James Alexander Holden in 1856,
Holden started as a saddler business in Adelaide. The company
eventually moved into the automotive industry, going from a whisper to a purr
by first producing motorcycle sidecars, before roaring into full-sale vehicle
production, where the business soon flourished into one of the world’s leading
car manufacturers.From its boom years in the 1990s to shock losses in the 2000s, Holden has
had to adjust its trajectory these past few years to suit changing requirements
in the region. Mark Bernhard, Chairman and Managing Director for the iconic
car company, is now leading Holden’s evolution to being purely an importer,
with plans to close its Adelaide factory and rely on imported cars for ANZ
customers by 2017.Despite Holden’s strong Australian heritage, the renowned
motor company is undertaking significant transformation.
Discover how this Aussie icon is working to reinvent itself.IMAGES ELIZABETH BULLThe lion’s
share
EXECUTIVE INTERVIEW