accuRacY 50th annivERsaRY unlEashEd

SEPTEMBER 2007
EYE FOR
accuracy
Proving Ground
50th anniversary
VE Ute
unleashed
THE ULTIMATE ICON
atomic ve ute and pg anniversary souvenir poster inside
NEWS
THE
FROM THE
CHAIRMAN’S
VIEW
My first two months on the job have been extremely
satisfying. We’ve launched our fantastic new VE Ute which has
been well-received by dealers and automotive media throughout
Australia and New Zealand. In addition, I’ve enjoyed meeting
many of you and learning the details of how we operate. I must
say that I’m very impressed with the level of enthusiasm I see
in employees across the organisation, and I feel really good
about the opportunity to lead this great team.
My focus is to help GM Holden become a profitable,
sustainable business. Achieving this will require us to take
the offensive and become “fighting fit.” In doing so, we must
maximise opportunities to strengthen our profitability and
address the challenges that will affect us in the future. It’s
not just about responding to the market and right-sizing the
business. It’s really about being proactive and “fighting fit”
like a professional boxer whose speed, agility, flexibility, and
toughness are tools of the trade. By matching these tools
with a strategic focus and offensive mindset, we’ll have a
winning combination. As a first step, I plan to lead a strategic
workshop aimed at strengthening Holden’s position and
contributions to Global GM. This is not an exercise to create
more wall paper charts. Rather, it’s a process that will help
us identify required strategies and create initiatives that will
become measurable action plans.
The Australian automotive market remains extremely
challenging with more than 50 different brands competing for
attention. The pressure is on us to grow market share across
all segments of our portfolio. VE Ute is an excellent addition to
our line-up, and dealers are extremely confident about how well
this vehicle will do in the marketplace. However, it’s imperative
that we continue to leverage the full potential of our imported
models. I’m convinced that there’s still a lot of passion for the
Holden brand among consumers, and it’s our job to keep this
feeling alive, and grow it further, through great vehicles.
We need to stay hungry and on the offensive in the areas
of manufacturing competitiveness and the export side of
our business as well. While it’s important for us to execute
current programs flawlessly, we have to think about what
we must do three to four years down the road to ensure our
long-term sustainability. Also, we need to apply an offensive
mindset to our role as GM’s Global Rear Wheel Drive Centre
of Expertise and maintain our strong contributions to vehicle
programs around the world.
Most world-class boxers will tell you that achieving their
fighting fitness is a continuous and often strenuous journey.
But that’s what it takes to be a winner. I’m glad to be on the
Holden team and look forward to continuing the journey with
you to be the best.
Chris Gubbey
Chairman and Managing Director
BOARDROOM
Tony Hyde
Executive Director Engineering
The month of August brought significant milestones for two
of Holden’s legends.
The Proving Ground celebrated its 50th Anniversary, and
we launched the 10th iteration of the Holden Ute.
Holden’s Proving Ground opened in August 1957. Testing
of Holden products could now be conducted on roads “behind
closed doors” providing a secure, controlled environment for
the myriad of tasks required in a new car development program.
The largest Proving Ground in the southern hemisphere
has gone on to become a world class centre for vehicle
emissions and safety testing, as well as growing its original
vehicle durability capability.
Throughout those 50 years, it has been the people of the
Proving Ground and their “can do” attitude that has ensured
the continued success of Holden products. Naturally they
have played a major role in the development of our other big
story of the month – the launch of the VE utility. Born in 1951,
the ute has developed from a workhorse of the country to a
lifestyle sports machine in both Holden and HSV guise.
Given our product plans and our part in Global
Engineering, the Proving Ground has a big role to play as we
test and develop Holdens, Vauxhalls, Daewoos, Chevrolets
and Pontiacs. The release of the Holden VE Ute will also
play a big role in maintaining Holden’s brand strength and its
legendary Australian status – and who is to know if some of
the current export markets will want to be part of marketing
an Australian legend!
End of the road
Vehicle assembly workers joined Adelaide media to
farewell the last of the VZ Commodores that rolled
off the production line at Elizabeth on Thursday,
September 6. Pictured preparing the last vehicle for
its media debut are Sean Doherty, Bruce Mahlknecht,
Michael Clark, Sean West, and Wayne Barrett.
COVER PHOTO: Daylene Chamberlain, 22, traded her job with an international entertainment services company and her apprenticeship in electronics that won her
Apprentice of the Year for the chance to work at GM Holden. Story Page 5.
PEOPLE
PAGE NEWS
VE Ute wins high praise
Employees were the first to go head
to head with the latest VE hero
during an upbeat reveal at HQ 191
and displays at vehicle, engine and
service parts operations in Victoria
and South Australia.
Eager onlookers packed the three
storey balconies around the head
office atrium where Chairman and
Managing Director, Chris Gubbey,
performed his first official duty as the
head of the company that conceived,
designed, engineered and built the
iconic ute. The significance of the
occasion was not lost on Chris who
praised employees for the years of
hard work to bring the Ute to market.
“I am proud to be a part of this
exciting chapter of GM Holden
history,” Chris said.
“The Holden Ute IS Australia and
the new VE Ute is the next chapter
in that love affair. We have invested
an extra 105 million dollars and an
additional 650,000 kms of validation
testing for VE Ute.
“The result is a world class
vehicle that truly raises the bar in its
segment. It delivers more technology,
safety enhancements, performance
and standard features than any
ute we’ve built before,” Chris told
employees before moving on to the
media launch.
Executive Director of Vehicle
Sales, Service and Marketing, Alan
Batey, added wow to the mix of
glowing accolades.
“This is a wow vehicle. It has the
ride and handling of a sports car,
the practicality of a pick-up and is an
aspirational vehicle. This is a vehicle
Chris Gubbey meets the local media at the VE Ute launch at Docklands in Melbourne
Debbie McIntyre, Terry Ryan and Gerlinda Kogler
at HSPO launch celebrations
that people want to own,” Alan said.
Executive Director Manufacturing,
Rod Keane, told the Elizabeth team that
the new VE ute was a generationally
different vehicle that introduced a high
quality recreational and work vehicle into
a fiercely competitive market segment.
I was given the keys to an
SSV and told not to damage it.
It was then that I realised that I was
going to be driving the billion dollar
baby on the open road. The overall
experience was amazing and I was
the envy of my colleagues.
Fiona Hawker
Proving Ground makes history
Former managers joined current
Proving Ground Manager, Jacqui
Sutherland, for celebrations to mark
GM Holden’s Proving Ground 50th
anniversary earlier this month.
The Proving Ground is currently
the lead test facility for General Motors
in the Asia Pacific region.
GM Holden bought the 877 hectare
site in 1956 and operations commenced
on August 13, 1957. Barrier crash test
facilities were added ahead of the 1969
PEOPLE
PAGE addition of buildings that today
house emissions and other safety
test facilities.
Located 95 kilometres south east
of Melbourne, the 877 hectare site was
Australia’s first automotive testing
and development complex. It has
been the testing ground for every
Holden from the FC to the recently
released VE Ute.
Turn to pages 8 and 9 to review
the celebrations.
NEWS
The Disa production team: Andrew Ousta, Suraj Bowatte, Jim Pasaportis, Huy Tong, Shane Boxshall and Spiros Roussos
Team effort brings savings
Attention to detail by the Disa production
team has resulted in a simple
suggestion that will save GM Holden
almost $50,000 this year.
When the team was asked to do
an end of production build of steering
knuckles, more hoppers or baskets were
needed to store the record number of
components. They hired in large ropacks
- heavy duty collapsible cartons, from
a supplier at a cost of .87736 cents per
day for each of the 250 ropacks.
The quick thinking team suggested
that as components left the plant and
baskets became available, the knuckles
could be transferred to the baskets and
the ropacks returned.
The result? Savings of more than
$4000 a month in hire fees. The
suggestion had a flow on benefit
by allocating a consistent number
of knuckles for each basket making
inventory management easier.
Flushe
An innovative system involving a cube
and bacteria fed on uric acid is one of
the many water saving environmental
initiatives at Holden manufacturing
sites. Known as Desert Cube, the
system has eliminated the need to
flush urinals in all men’s toilets at
vehicle operations in South Australia.
The success of the initiative has been
shared with facilities groups across the
company, and trials are now underway
at Fishermans Bend.
Desert Cube is an internationally
proven product, and its introduction
to vehicle operations has been
PEOPLE
PAGE NEWS
Eye for accuracy
Daylene Chamberlain
GM Holden has been the training ground
for many award winning apprentices over
the years. First year apprentice Certificate
111 Electrotechnology Instrumentation,
Daylene Chamberlain, continues that
tradition but with her own special twist.
Daylene was recently named
Apprentice of the Year Certificate 111
Entertainment Servicing, Retail and
Repair at Box Hill TAFE. The award
recognised her achievements whilst
in an apprenticeship with another
company prior to joining GM Holden
earlier this year. But Daylene and her
former employer agreed she needed a
more challenging role - one she found
when she outperformed the rest of the
applicants for her current position.
“I love it here,” Daylene said of her work
with the instrumentation technicians in
Plant 3 at Fishermans Bend.
“I enjoy it because it’s not just
electronics. I get to bring that knowledge
into working with flow and pressure
and that more mechanical and physics
based stuff. It is an opportunity to gain
more knowledge,” she said.
“It’s pretty exciting to say that I helped
run an engine test with these guys
or that I helped with the calibrations,”
Daylene said.
The 22 year-old broke new ground by
being the first female to be apprenticed
to the group for whom she has nothing
but praise.
“This area is fantastic and the guys are
just great. I can’t fault them,” Daylene
says of the people who share with her
their skills and experiences from working
everywhere from oil rigs to a brewery.
ed with success
championed by SA Facilities Manager,
Rick Weber, to save water and improve
the amenity of the restrooms where it
has been implemented.
“By using this system we are saving
10 litres per flush on the average urinal.
As the cube breaks down it gives off a
perfume that combats any odours,”
Rick said.
Desert Cube is an example of tackling
the little things in the campaign to save
the environment and precious resources
like water. It simplifies maintenance and
repair requirements of the plumbing and
reduces associated costs.
“If we can do this in urinals - which
are a fundamental part of the working
environment, then we may encourage
people to think about the lights, carpet,
stationery and so on,” Rick said.
Assistant Manager, Property
Services, Kerry Gray, coordinates the
Environmental Management System
across the Elizabeth site. He is confident
of widespread support for water saving
initiatives.
“There is increased awareness
in the broader community of water
consciousness, and the need for
conservation measures. This flows
PEOPLE
PAGE onto our employees and plant
management. I‘ve got no doubt that
people out in the plant are taking
initiatives of their own accord,”
Kerry said.
AUGUST SALES
GM HOLDEN OVERVIEW
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
•Holden Commodore was again number one and
now leads by 8,400 units for the year.
•August brought another monthly record with 88,206 vehicles
sold. All segments were up on last year.
•Barina had its best sales results since February
to post an all-time August record of 1,149 sales.
•Toyota maintained top position (20,938) ahead of Holden
(12,209) and Ford (9,544). Toyota was the leader in the
passenger car segment with Corolla and Aurion driving
significant growth over last year.
•Caprice again set new heights with 164 units sold
– the best August result ever.
•Captiva continued to drive growth in the sports utility
vehicle segment with sales of 919 units for the month.
MARKET LEADERS
•The sports utility vehicle segment recorded the strongest growth
up a massive 28.8 per cent with growth in both the compact and
medium segments, but sales of large SUVs continued to decline.
MARKET LEADERS
(AUGUST)
TOYOTA
TOYOTA20,938
20,938
TOYOTA
TOYOTA156,508
156,508
HOLDEN
HOLDEN12,209
12,209
HOLDEN
HOLDEN100,671
100,671
FORD
FORD9,544
9,544
FORD
FORD72,851
72,851
MAZDA
MAZDA6,074
6,074
MAZDA
MAZDA51,642
51,642
HONDA
HONDA5,034
5,034
MITSUBISHI
MITSUBISHI43,634
43,634
MITSUBISHI
MITSUBISHI4,683
4,683
HONDA
HONDA41,707
41,707
NISSAN
NISSAN4,469
4,469
NISSAN
NISSAN41,242
41,242
HYUNDAI
HYUNDAI4,354
4,354
HYUNDAI
HYUNDAI31,257
31,257
SUBARU
SUBARU3,148
3,148
SUBARU
SUBARU25,711
25,711
KIA
KIA1,735
1,735
(2007)
KIA
KIA13,510
13,510
00
5,000
5,000
10,000
10,000
15,000
15,000
20,000
20,000
00
40,000
40,000
80,000
80,000
120,000
120,000
160,000
160,000
HOLDEN CAR LINES
BARINA
August 2007 sales: 1,149
August 2006 sales: 1,091
2007 YTD sales: 8,520
2006 YTD sales: 9,567
VIVA
August 2007 sales: 588
August 2006 sales: 1,025
2007 YTD sales: 5,413
2006 YTD sales: 7,820
ASTRA
August 2007 sales: 1,258
August 2006 sales: 1,491
2007 YTD sales: 12,790
2006 YTD sales: 13,480
ASTRA twin top
August 2007 sales:
91
August 2006 sales:
51
2007 YTD sales:
916
2006 YTD sales:
700
EPICA
August 2007 sales: 513
August 2006 sales:
0
2007 YTD sales: 1,910
2006 YTD sales:
0
COMMODORE
August 2007 sales: 4,899
August 2006 sales: 4,986
2007 YTD sales: 40,116
2006 YTD sales: 35,688
STATESMAN
August 2007 sales: 222
August 2006 sales:
36
2007 YTD sales: 1,573
2006 YTD sales: 1,100
CAPRICE
August 2007 sales: 164
August 2006 sales:
9
2007 YTD sales: 1,569
2006 YTD sales:
265
UTE (inc. one tonner & crewman)
August 2007 sales: 654
August 2006 sales: 1,180
2007 YTD sales: 7,134
2006 YTD sales: 10,401
CAPTIVA
August 2007 sales: 919
August 2006 sales:
0
2007 YTD sales: 6,715
2006 YTD sales:
0
RODEO
August 2007 sales: 1,647
August 2006 sales: 1,362
2007 YTD sales: 12,598
2006 YTD sales: 12,804
COMBO
August 2007 sales:
August 2006 sales:
2007 YTD sales:
2006 YTD sales:
SAAB
August 2007 sales: 100
August 2006 sales: 147
2007 YTD sales:
1359
2006 YTD sales:
1223
56
91
488
755
PEOPLE
PAGE NEWS
Hair raising route to good health
Joe Piechocki and Nick Pettina
are just two of the hundreds of GM
Holden employees expected to throw
their support behind the Movember
campaign. Joe has agreed to shave
and regrow his impressive full beard
as part of the month long campaign
to promote men’s health. Nick
willingly weighed in to support our
photograph to launch the initiative
but is still in negotiations with family
about baring all for the cause.
Nick may find the extra incentive
he needs in the prize that GM Holden
is offering to the Movember magnate.
A bushy mo or beard will land one
lucky man behind the wheel of a
new VE Ute.
The Movember campaign will
run throughout November. It aims
to change apathy to action around
serious men’s health issues including
prostate cancer and depression by
putting the mo back on the face of
Australia and raising funds for research
and treatment in the process.
Every year in Australia 2,700 men
die of prostate cancer. Meanwhile,
one in six men suffers from
depression at any given time.
Union Representative Nick Pettina helps HR Director – Manufacturing,
Joe Piechocki prepare for Movember
Bye Bye
Big Red
The Holden Airship, affectionately
dubbed Big Red, made its last
flight over the V8 Supercars race at
Sandown in Victoria earlier this month.
The airship was part of the
innovative marketing mix adopted
to boost awareness of the VE
Commodore range.
During GM Holden’s exclusive
sponsorship of the airship, the screen
has been used to advertise Holden’s
entire car range, promote local
dealerships and Holden’s community
partners, and to send Happy Birthday and
Get Well Soon messages to loved ones.
Over the past 12 months, Big Red
has made more than 400 flights and
covered more than 100,000 kms from
Adelaide to Cairns.
It is the only airship to tour the entire
Australian coastline adding a distinctive
Holden brand presence at dealer
events, air shows and sporting events
including the V8 Supercars Series.
PEOPLE
PAGE FEATURE
Golden sunshine combined with golden
memories at the family open day to
celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the
Holden Proving Ground. Employees and
retirees joined former Proving Ground
Managers and the current incumbent,
Jacqui Sutherland for the event.
For family members, the celebrations
provided a rare opportunity to go
backstage of the secure facility where
loved ones play a key role in the durability,
safety and emissions testing of Holden
and other GM vehicles.
Executive Director Engineering,
Tony Hyde welcomed visitors to the
facility that is part of the GM Home
Room for Global Rear Wheel Drive.
“I worked here in 1970-71 and was
back in 1973. In those days we called
it the Country Club mainly because you
could practise golf at lunchtime. Believe
me it is still one of the greatest places to
work and I think if you are working here
you appreciate that,” Tony said.
“The people who work here make
a significant contribution to the design
and development of not only Holdens,
but also these days Chevrolets, soon
to be Cadillacs, certainly Pontiacs and
Buicks. We don’t have much to do with
Hummer as yet, but we’ll get there,”
Tony told the crowd.
Proving Ground Manager, Jacqui
Sutherland, was kept busy greeting
guests and directing them to the various
displays and activities that her event
committee, headed up by Scott
McDonald, had organised for the day.
Popular Lang Lang veteran of 43
years, Allan George, was one of many
retirees who turned out for the event.
“The place has really grown, and we
now have the ability to test to the next
level.” Allan said.
Despite his affection for the original
green garage, Allan welcomed news of
a proposal to build a new multi-million
dollar Durability Garage.
“The old garage has done its job, it’s
time to move on. We wouldn’t be sorry
to see a new one,” Allan said.
Yesterday, today and tomorrow converged at the celebrations
Coral Huckle helps husband David with the showbags
Demonstrations by the Holden Fire Rescue team, a barrier crash
test, bus tours of the road systems and barbecue lunch were
part of the program.
PEOPLE
PAGE FEATURE
Ian Morrison (left) enjoyed the chance to return to Holden and
see where his son-in-law Glen Thoonan works
Michelle Sutherland
puts the finishing
touches on threeyear-old Madisson
Brzezowski’s face
paint. Michelle,
sister Lynette and
father Ron were all
on hand to support
Proving Ground
Manager, Jacqui.
(top right) Tony Hyde (centre) with Proving Ground Mangers past and present
(back) Hugh Videion, Graham Anderson, Ray Borrett, Adrian Feeney,
Bill Hooper, Tony Brougham, Chris Malan and (front) Laurie Sparke,
Chris Shattock, Jacqui Sutherland and Ernie Tamburrini.
(Jack Joyce (deceased) was the first PG Site Manager).
(above) Time out for Alex Glenk (centre) and brothers
Danyon (left) and Lachlan. Also pictured Rolf Glenk
from powertrain calibration, his wife Sonia and
parents Dieter and Traude.
(left) Proving Ground veteran of 43 years,
Allan George met up with one of his “right
hand men”, Kevin Blencowe who retired
only two years ago after 31 years of service.
(right) Executive Director Engineering, Tony Hyde
and Harold Ingamells re-enact the turning of the first sod
at the site of the proposed new multi-million dollar Durability
Garage, in front of the original facility that opened on August
13, 1957. Harold was part of the Holden team working
with the construction company before the Proving Ground
opened in 1957 and one of the 1,300 visitors who joined
in anniversary celebrations on Sunday, September 9.
PEOPLE
PAGE GLOBAL
GLOBAL
Vauxhall Introduces
New Muscle Car
Vauxhall has introduced an all-new
performance vehicle that is even
more powerful and exciting than
its predecessor, the Monaro. The
new VXR8 is a true muscle car
with performance and practicality
wrapped in one package. The new
car is powered by the same 6.0-litre
V8 as the outgoing Monaro VXR, but
revisions have made it even more
efficient. It now produces 417PS and
550Nm of torque, giving it enough
power to sprint from 0-60mph in just
4.9 seconds. Yet the VXR8, based on
the Holden VE HSV Clubsport R8,
offers more in the way of practicality,
with four doors and space for a family.
$500 Million Investment
for Argentina and Brazil
GM will invest $500 million in its
operations in Argentina and Brazil for
the development of a new generation
of small vehicles for Latin America
and other emerging markets.
The investment also includes the
expansion of GM’s Brazilian product
development centre.
Through the first two quarters
of 2007, GM sales in Brazil and
Argentina were up 18 and 16 per cent
respectively over the same period in
2006. Both GM Argentina (75,000)
and GM Brazil (410,000) set all-time
sales records in 2006.
Daewoo Launches Racing Team
GM Daewoo Auto & Technology has
launched the GM Daewoo Racing
Team, the first motorsports team run
by a Korean automaker that bears
the automaker’s name. The foray
into racing is not unprecedented as
Daewoo has many years of motor
sports experience. The GM Daewoo
Racing Team selected the Kalos,
Gentra and Lacetti to compete in
two categories of the 2007 Korea
Grand Touring Championship. Racing
Director Won-kyu Ju has assembled
a team of four experienced drivers
and four mechanics.
GM Strength on Show at
Frankfurt
The Frankfurt Motor Show presented
a world stage for General Motors to
unveil its latest and extensive range of
The Vauxhall VXR8
environmental product initiatives.
GM showcased 11 world and European
premieres. Featured among the line up
were the HydroGen4 fuel cell vehicle
Volt electric car; new Opel/Vauxhall Agila
ecoFLEX electric car; New 9-3 Saab
with a top of the line Turbo X model; BLS
Cadillac Wagon and new generation of
Cadillac CTS luxury sedan; Transformers
film star the H2 Hummer and the retro
concept hero, the Holden Efijy.
South Africa Counters
Skills Shortage
GM South Africa has invested R1
million in the multi-million rand
Advanced Mechatronics Technology
Centre (AMTC) that was launched
at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan
University (NMMU) in Port Elizabeth.
The move is one of the initiatives aimed
at overcoming the shortage of qualified
engineers in the country.
Vice President of Vehicle Assembly
Operations at GM South Africa,
Michael Pearton said he was proud to
be associated with the NMMU on the
initiative and confident that the centre
would boost existing engineering
programs. GM South Africa employs
100 engineers of which six positions
are unfilled.
HydroGen3 Appears in China
GM’s HydroGen3 became the first
hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle
to appear in China when it visited
Heilongtan Park in the city of Lijiang.
According to General Motors Director
PEOPLE
PAGE 10
of Environment, Energy and Safety
Policy Terry Pritchett, the HydroGen3
represents part of GM’s solution
for realising the industry dream of
producing vehicles that generate zero
emissions. Its display in the 1,000year-old city of Lijiang demonstrated
GM’s commitment to sustainable
development and to finding solutions
that will lead to “bluer skies, cleaner
water and greener hills.”
GM announced it would continue
its cooperation with The Nature
Conservancy (TNC), expanding
their work protecting the natural
environment in Yunnan. GM and
TNC have been involved in ecological
protection projects in the south
western China province for eight years.
PEOPLE
onthemove
Bob Pantano
Robert (Bob) Pantano has assumed the
role of Executive Director, Planning and
Program Management. Bob commenced
his international service personnel
assignment at GM Holden in March,
2005. His new Board responsibilities are
in addition to his current role as Director
of Program Management for GM Holden
and Global Rear Wheel Drive Programs.
Simon Kuek has returned from his
three-year assignment in the United
States to continue in the role of
Advanced Vehicle Planning Manager,
Global Product Planning, reporting to
Jeruld Weiland, as well as Bob Pantano.
Former Deputy Director GM China
Human Resources, Doreen Chng has
replaced Graham Rowe, who has
moved to China, in the position of HR
Manager – Vehicle Sales Service and
Marketing. Doreen joined GM Holden
in February, 1995 as an HR Consultant.
In March, 1996 she took on the position
of HR Director for the Thailand Project
in Singapore and was instrumental in
setting up the Thailand HR office. From
November, 1997 Doreen worked as the
HR Manager – Asia Pacific
Engineering before commencing an ISP
assignment in China in March, 1999.
John Elsworth has been appointed
to the role of Director – Sales, VSSM.
In this role John will continue to report
to Executive Director Alan Batey. John
commenced with GM Holden in June,
1990 and has held a number of positions
within marketing, planning, pricing,
distribution, zone sales, and most
Simon Kuek
recently in the position of
Director – Marketing.
Replacing John as Director –
Marketing, is Philip Brook who
commenced work with GM Holden
in September, 2004 after many years
experience in marketing roles with
Nissan Australia, and in planning and
sales roles with Honda Australia. Most
recently Philip has held the position of
Marketing Manager – Large Cars and
SUVs with GM Holden.
James Rogers has moved to China to
take up a new appointment at the Asia
Pacific Headquarters. James will now be
reporting to Global Process Information
Officer (PIO) Services, Brian Rice, in his
new role as Asia–Pacific PIO for Business
Services. James joined Holden as the
Aftersales Manager – Business Systems
in 2003. In August of the same year he
transferred to Information Systems and
Services as the Information Systems
Planning Manager for Global Purchasing
and Supply Chain. For the past two
years James was Holden PIO for Global
Purchasing and Supply Chain, Global
Sales, Service and Marketing and
Business Services Group.
Engineering has seen a number of
new appointments. Joanne Markham
has been promoted to the position of
Engineering Group Manager – Electrical.
Jo will have responsibility for electronics,
development and validation and
powertrain electronics. Former Vehicle
Systems Engineer – Exterior Simon
Fredricks has also been promoted to
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PAGE 11
Engineering Group Manager Body
Structures/Closures.
Sharon Gauci, from Holden Design,
has accepted an ISP assignment with
the GMNA Design Team. Sharon will
assume the role of GMNA Color and
Trim Director in January, 2008. Sharon’s
assignment is part of a global employee
rotation initiative within Global Design
– Color and Trim, which sees Erin
Crossley from GMNA joining Holden
Design on an ISP assignment in the
role of Chief Designer – Color and Trim
and Kathy Sirvio, from GMNA, joining
GMDAT Design in the role of Design
Manager Color and Trim.
In other GM Design news, Matthew
Davis has been appointed to the newly
created position of Global Design
Director of Appearance Quality, based
at GMNA, reporting to Vice President
of Global Design, Ed Welburn, and
Executive Director of North America
Interior Design, Dave Lyon.
GM Holden Design welcomes
Guy Burgoyne to the Creative Design
team as the Chief Designer – Interior.
Guy brings more than 16 years of
automotive design experience to the
role. He has worked within numerous
automotive organisations, including
BMW, Nissan, Mazda, Proton, Rolls
Royce, Piagio and Rover, and most
recently Volvo Car Corporation where
he held the role of Studio Chief Designer.
In his role, Guy Burgoyne will be
responsible for leading GM Holden’s
Interior Creative Designers.
PEOPLE
me
AND MY CAR
It is often said that your car is a
reflection of your personality. In Simon
Kitson’s case, nothing could be closer
to the truth. Simon, a self-professed
show off, is revelling in all the attention
he receives behind the wheel of his big
black Hummer H2. With a price tag
today around the $180,000 mark, its not
surprising that Simon’s vehicle is one
of only a handful registered in Australia.
Simon won his Hummer H2 in a
competition earlier this year and has
been cruising the streets and shopping
centres since.
“I saw this competition and to
be honest I entered because of the
Sidchrome tool set that was the other
prize. It didn’t even occur to me that
anyone could actually win the Hummer,”
Simon said.
“When the lady rang and said I’d
won I thought beauty, I’ve won the
tool box,” he said.
Simon’s prize has come at some
cost. He’s spent $10,000 extending
the garage and without the $5,000 of
fuel thrown in as part of the prize, he
couldn’t afford to drive the massive
vehicle that has a kerb weight of almost
4,000 tonnes. A recent trip to visit family
in Hamilton, Victoria ate $700 of the
Simon Kitson, Press Shop Elizabeth
free fuel budget.
“People used to ask me where I was
going to park it. I’d say anywhere I like.
With a car like that, who’s going to argue,”
Simon said.
“It drives like a big luxury Statesman.
It’s got heated leather electric seats,
climate control, big sunroof, power
steering, air conditioning, cruise control,
fold in mirrors – a lot of luxury features.
“The 6 litre V8 engine is the same as
the one in our VE SS Commodore but
where we have an aluminium block its
got a cast block,” he said.
With baby number one almost due and
the inevitable end to the free fuel, Simon
is preparing for life after Hummer.
“I’d really like to keep it but we can
sell it and buy a family wagon, pay
a hunk off the house and keep the
fantastic memory. I’ll still find a way
to show off,” he said.
Master of the mountain
Simon Anzil
Simon Anzil from Pre-Marriage Group in
General Assembly, is one of thousands
of sports enthusiasts preparing to take
part in the Australasian Masters Games
in Adelaide next month. And while
Simon is honing his skills in cross
country mountain biking, other 30 plus
hopefuls are hard at work training for
everything from archery to water polo.
“I used to be a mountain biker when I
was a teenager and I only took it up
again four years ago. This year I joined
the Adelaide Mountain Biking Club and
decided to compete in the games,”
Simon said.
Training takes Simon out to the specially
made tracks including Eagle Park near
Mount Lofty where he pedals and jumps
PEOPLE
PAGE 12
his way around trees and other hazards.
A recent collision with a tree landed the
32 year-old a neck injury, smashed
helmet and broken front wheel.
“I was pretty lucky, I could have
broken my neck. I’ve bought the new
helmet but still need to find the dollars
to replace the wheel,” Simon said.
Other GM Holden employees
competing in the games include Vicky
Lines from the Body Paint Laboratory
(race walking) and Andrew Kirkhamm
also from the Paint Shop (cycling).
The games are a biennial event
open to all enthusiasts over 30 years
of age. This year’s event will run
from October 5-14 at various venues
around Adelaide.
PEOPLE
Lisa Hardiman
whodoesthat?
Executive Assistant – Managing Director
Chris is your third boss in
your four years here.
How hard is that?
I try not to think about it. I am not very
good at goodbyes. I said at Denny’s
farewell that I was his work wife - the
person at work who co-ordinated his
life. You become so ingrained in their
everyday personal and business life that
you don’t realise until they’ve gone how
much a part of you is actually leaving
with them.
What is the biggest change
in the early weeks working
with Chris?
Denny was surgically attached to his
Blackberry and we got into the habit
of e-mailing constantly and he would
respond instantly. Chris is very different.
While he has a Blackberry, he’s not
surgically attached to it. We probably
talk more and that’s good.
What key qualities does the
EA role demand?
Patience - which I don’t always have
mountains of. The ability to think outside
the square because the MDs come from
different parts of the world and even
though they are part of the same family,
they do things completely differently.
You have to be able to get things done
in a way you may not have previously.
You also have to be very self-motivated
because they travel so much and you
are on your own with no hum of people
around to keep you motivated.
What is your favourite work tool
or piece of office equipment?
The multi function unit. It’s my absolute
favourite. We’ve become quite paperless
around here. I just scan everything and
e-mail it around. I wouldn’t know how to
move things around quickly without it.
You work in beautiful
surroundings. Anything you’d
like to change?
If I could I would probably take out
the doors because it is a very isolated
environment. Yes, it is pristine and
presents beautifully, but you don’t get
invited or involved in things that are
organised in the open workspaces
because people forget you are up here,
or they think they can’t come and ask
you because it’s the MD’s office. But
I think people come to know that the
palatial surroundings are not a reflection
of those of us who work in here.
What key changes have you
seen in your four years here?
Holden today is a lot more globally
focused and that’s a part of the GM
strategy. Personally I think it is an easier
place to work and that has probably
come with time. For me it was a
challenge to integrate into such a large
organisation. I found the processes
and procedures very different to what
I had experienced at United Energy.
Integrating globally just added another
layer to it.
PEOPLE
PAGE 13
How do you switch off from work?
I love music; there’s always music
playing at home. I live near the beach
and love walking. Pilates is a favourite
pastime and spending time with my
family who also live in Melbourne. We
like having friends over for a barbecue,
and enjoy entertaining at home. My
personal life has changed so much in
the past 12 months. Once the job would
have been the be all and end all, but it’s
not anymore.
SERVICE HONORS
20 YEARS
Aristidis Kapiniaris
Colin Brodie
Michael Bowron
Michael Goddard
Daniel Trezise
Richard Phillips
Shayne Wright
Christopher Price
Barry Higham
Brenton McAteer
Graham Jenkins
Craig Mumby
Darren Schmidt
Glen Silver
The Hung Vu
Mark Sargeant
Stephen Claughton
Grant Discombe
Thi Mai Phi Vo
Savonn Ly
Martin Cleary
Grant Merrett
Robert Magnusson
Ramil Randell
Philip Evans
Grant Warner
Kelvin Attewell
Frank De Ruiter
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15 YEARS
Andrew Smith
Gary Davis
Hector Morales
Robert Litchfield
Murray Rowntree
Martin Kimpton
Geoff Bennett
Oscar Aguero
10 YEARS
Stephen James
Jonathan D’Cruz
Mal Saunders
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PEOPLE
PAGE 14
SERVICE HONORS
10 YEARS (continued)
Tharwat Tadrous
Kevin Greaves
Eddie Menor
Jacqui Thompson
David Thompson
Duncan Zimmermann
David Edwards
Colin Hempel
Darren Draper
Ian Floyd
Benjamin Thompson
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Retiree revellers
Not even a bad fall could stop Holden
veteran, Jack Rawnsley (below) from
taking the stage at the recent Holden
Retirees lunch in Melbourne. Jack,
whose history as an engineer with
Holden dates back to the 48-215,
shared memories of many years
at Holden with the large crowd that
gathered for the lunch. Jack worked
with American engineers in Detroit
in the design and development of
the first Holden, the 48-215. Jack’s
journey to the States was by boat,
a six week expedition aboard the
British India Chybassa.
Ken Gibb, Penny Prusakowski, Tony Pawsey
people
People is published by Corporate Affairs for
employees and retirees of GM Holden Ltd.
People is printed on chlorine-free 50% recycled paper.
John Morrison and Jo Smith
CONTACTS
Fred Jamieson and Jack Rawnsley
Pam Sweeting and Cath Davies
Editorial office
191 Salmon Street, Port Melbourne
Editor
Kate Arnold Graphic Words Pty Ltd
Corporate Affairs
Bill Grotz 03 9647 1395
Layout and Design
Wellcom Group Limited
Photography
Fineprint Productions
Simon Stanbury
A General Motors Company
Print Management
Stream Solutions
PEOPLE
PAGE 15
GM Holden Retirees Club
President
Ian Samuel 03 5956 8431
Secretary
Leo Mahoney 03 9802 4121
Social Club contacts
David Huckel
Holden’s Sports and Social Club
(Victoria) 0421 047 374
Don McLeod
Holden Employees Social Club
(Elizabeth) 08 8282 8384
MOTORSPORT
Battle on as Bathurst beckons
Holden continues to dominate the
V8 Supercar Series as the clock ticks
down to Bathurst on October 4-7.
Commodores have won six of the
nine rounds to date, with Toll/HSV Dealer
Team team-mates, Rick Kelly and Garth
Tander involved in a titanic battle with
each other for the championship.
The two drivers have traded the points
lead over the past three rounds, Garth
assuming the position at the head of the
table at the seventh round in Queensland
in July and the defending champion
snatching it back with his second place
finish with enduro co-driver Paul Radisich
at the Sandown 500 in Melbourne earlier
this month. Garth and co-driver Craig
Baird finished fourth.
The Holden Racing Team’s pre-race
favoritism for the traditional Bathurst
warm-up received a bitter blow just three
days before the race when champion
Mark Skaife underwent an emergency
operation for appendicitis.
Mark’s former HRT Bathurst-winning
team-mate, Tony Longhurst accepted a
last minute call and paired with Glenn
Seton, while Nathan Pretty moved
alongside Todd Kelly – also battling
illness.Todd and Nathan finished the
race ninth with Glenn and Tony four
spots further back.
Mark Skaife will be fit to take his place
in the team for Bathurst where he hopes
to win for the sixth time.
The two Pauls, Dumbrell and Weel,
finished sixth in a return to form for the
PWR/Supercheap Auto team.
Meanwhile, yet another Garry Rogers
discovery, Lee Holdsworth, has thrown
his hat into the ring of potential future
champions following his first V8 Supercar
victory at the eighth round of the
championship, the Jim Beam 400
at Oran Park in August.
Lee made a brave call and started
the final race on wet tyres, outfoxing
almost the entire field with rain falling
almost immediately the race began.
“I felt safer starting on wets and it
turned out to be the right decision,”
he said.
“Winning for Garry and the team was
better than anything I’d ever felt before.
I had butterflies in my stomach afterwards
and just wanted to go out and celebrate
with them.”
Lee backed up his Oran Park form
with a strong fifth place Sandown finish
with team-mate Dean Canto.
The next round is the Supercheap
Auto Bathurst 1000, which takes place
at Mount Panorama on October 4-7.
The V8 Supercar seasons heads into
full swing over the coming two months,
with Bathurst quickly followed by Indy on
the Gold Coast, Bahrain and Symmons
Plains in Tasmania, before concluding at
Phillip Island in early December.
Holden won its seventh Australian Safari
with an emphatic victory by the PWR/
Holden Rally Team in Western Australia.
After a gruelling nine day, 5,500 km
trek through the outback, starting at
Kununurra, John Hederics and co-driver
John Williams drove their PWR/Holden
Rally Team Rodeo across the finish in
Perth more than one hour ahead of their
competition.
“The Safari is always a tough event,
not only a contest of speed, but also
one of consistency and endurance.
It’s not always the fastest car which
wins, but usually the one with the least
amount of downtime, and our Rodeo
ran without any problems for the entire
eight days,” John said.
Their break came when, after a five
day battle with Sydney father and son,
Terry and Michael Denham, the Denham’s
Rallyart Mitsubishi Triton faltered.
“The pace at the start was the fastest
I’ve ever done. We said ‘one of us is
going to break’ and it was the Mitsubishi.”
The PWR/Holden Rally Team Rodeo
dominated the event, winning 13 of 30
competitive stages and placing in the
top three in 15 others.
The win was John’s ninth, having won
six times in the Motorcycle division before
switching to four wheels and claiming
the last three straight Auto titles.
intheoutback
PEOPLE
PAGE 16