AADA CEO, David Blackhall, will reduce his full-time commitments at the end of his current contract on 30 June 2019.

AADA is delighted that David will continue in a consultancy and advisory capacity to the AADA for a further six months until 31 December 2019.

Separately, AADA is announcing leadership transitional arrangements in accordance with a plan approved last year by the AADA Board.

AADA Chairman, Terry Keating, said David has been an outstanding CEO for AADA.

During his almost four-year tenure he has guided the Association through a period of unprecedented regulatory and legislative change. Whilst some of these regulatory changes are still being negotiated, David has agreed with the Board to continue to assist us during 2019, through to fruition on these important matters.

“We thank David for his leadership and look forward to continuing close ties through to the end of the year,” Mr Keating said.

AADA has announced the following changes to the organisation of the AADA Secretariat, effective immediately:

• James Voortman, Executive Director Communications and Policy, is being appointed to the newly-created position of Deputy CEO. James will continue to report to the CEO, David Blackhall, until 30 June 2019.
• Brian Savage, Executive Director Operations, is being appointed to the newly-created position of Chief Operating Officer. Brian will also continue to report to the CEO for the same period.

All other Secretariat positions and reporting relationships remain unaltered. David Blackhall’s CEO services contract ends 30 June 2019. He has indicated a desire to step down from his CEO role at that time and generally reduce his full-time commitments.

At the Board’s request, David has agreed to continue working with the Board in a consulting and advisory capacity through the end of 2019. He will be concentrating on the delivery of the Automotive Code.

The Secretariat changes are in line with a leadership transition plan developed and approved by the AADA Board last year. These arrangements are aimed at allowing James and Brian to progressively assume their wider duties during the next four months, under David’s guidance and mentorship.

The AADA Board will make an announcement on the full-time replacement for David Blackhall as CEO as soon as possible. We expect to make further announcements about our Secretariat organisation in early July 2019.