AHG brings Greg Duncan to boardroom table

AUSTRALIA’S biggest motor vehicle retailer, Automotive Holdings Group (AHG), has appointed experienced retail executive Greg Duncan to its board.

Mr Duncan is well known as the key figure behind the Trivett group in Sydney and Melbourne, acting as a director and shareholder for many years before purchasing outright ownership in 2001 and leading it to the position as the largest prestige automotive group in Australia.

He sold the Trivett business in 2013 to British-based global vehicle distributor and retailer Inchcape for £78 million ($A148.5m), and since then has been a shareholder, director and partner in JWT Bespoke, a family owned and operated boutique advisory and investment business.

He is also a founder, shareholder and chairman of One Way Traffic, trading as CarsGuide.com.au, a joint venture between News Limited and some of Australia’s major dealer groups.

AHG chairman David Griffiths said the appointment, which is subject to ratification by shareholders at the company’s 2015 annual general meeting, will bring high-level experience in motor vehicle retailing to the boardroom table at Perth-based AHG.

“Greg is an acknowledged automotive retail industry leader,” he said.

“With his dealership experience, his business development history and his relationship with manufacturers, Greg’s appointment will add to the broad experience of our current board.”

As GoAuto has reported, AHG recently posted a record half-year net profit (for the six months to December 31, 2014) of $45 million, up 17.4 per cent on the previous corresponding period.

Revenue of $2.57 billion for the period represented a 10.6 per cent increase, with the automotive division up 7.1 per cent to $2.05 billion.

The company has more than 150 car and truck dealerships operating in Western Australia, along the east coast of Australia and in New Zealand.