Meehan appointed new CEO following extensive global search, Bernhard joins as board member
Automotive aftermarket parts and equipment provider Bapcor Limited filled two executive positions last week.
Bapcor’s acting chief executive, Noel Meehan, was named the new CEO effective February 8, and Mark Bernhard has been appointed as a non-executive director of Bapcor, effective March 1.
Meehan, who joined the company in 2020 as the chief financial officer, had been the company’s acting CEO since December 6, following the retirement announcement of former CEO and MD Darryl Abotomey.
“The Board is delighted to confirm Noel’s appointment as Bapcor’s CEO,” Bapcor executive chair Margaret Haseltine says.
“The Board has invested considerable time and effort in CEO succession.
“Having completed an extensive global search that included a number of high calibre candidates, we are confident that Noel is the best person to lead Bapcor.
“In performing his duties as Acting Chief Executive Officer, Noel has ably demonstrated his depth of knowledge, understanding and passion for the business, its strategic opportunity and sustainable success.
“Noel is energised to simplify and grow the business, is very well placed to deliver on the organisation’s immediate, emerging and long-term objectives, and he has garnered the support of the Group Leadership Team on that journey.
“Importantly, Noel has proven to have an extremely strong fit with the desired culture and values.
“Noel’s career to date has seen him successfully navigate considerable national and international business challenges of great complexity, breadth and scale.
Noel has demonstrated an ability to simultaneously drive growth in revenues, margins and return on capital and has been central to strategic plan development and execution.
“In addition, he has deep capital markets (debt and equity) and international M&A experience.”
Meehan says he was honoured to take the new role.
“My focus will be on the company’s continued strong performance, being responsive to an evolving external environment and delivering on Bapcor’s future growth opportunity,” Meehan says.
“Having worked with the board, group leadership team and the broader team as both CFO and Acting CEO, I am excited by the opportunity to lead the company at this stage of its journey and deliver long-term value for all Bapcor stakeholders.”
Noel joined Bapcor in June 2020, following a successful career as Chief Financial Officer at Toll Group and Treasury Wine Estates Limited.
He has also held executive roles at Orica Limited and Qantas.
Noel is a fellow of the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Noel holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Mathematics and Planning and Administration from the University of Leeds and completed the Advanced Management Program as Harvard Business School.
New non-executive director Bernhard has significant board and executive management experience in the automotive industry, having worked in Australia, Europe, the United States, South East Asia and China.
Bernhard previously served as chairman and MD of General-Motors Holden Australia from 2015 to 2018, and CFO and VP of Shanghai-GM from 2011 to 2015.
Bernhard is currently a non-executive director of Carbon Revolution, an ASX listed hi-tech automotive wheel manufacturer.
“I’m excited to be joining the Bapcor Board and being able to leverage my global automotive experience, in supporting the business in their next stage of growth,” Bernhard says.
“The automotive business is undergoing significant change globally and Bapcor is ideally placed to participate in this transformation”.
Bernhard holds a business/accounting degree from Monash University, an MBA from Deakin University, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has studied Transformational Management at Stanford University.
“We are very pleased to welcome Mark to the Bapcor Board, bringing significant experience in the automotive industry which will complement the skill sets of the current board members,” Haseltine says.