Gary Watson

Experience

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  R.L. Polk Australia

  Jan 2000 - Jul 2001

  General Manager

  Polk Australia is one of the largest automotive business consultancies in Australia. Polk provides a range of services developed from their capabilities in data capture, storage and analysis. Polk Australia is a local (Asia) office for R.L. Polk, the U.S.A. based automotive business consultancy. R.L. Polk has operations in the USA, Europe, the UK and Asia. It is the oldest, and largest, automotive specialist consultancy in the world. I held the position of General Manager at POlk following a succesful acquisition of the TUP consultancy business. Show less

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  Fuel Automotive

  Jul 2001 - Nov 2002

  Managing Director/ Owner

  The business model for Fuel was to use analysis of market penetration and network/ OEM capability, and develop operational management improvement programs to extend that capability into market gaps.Fuel was an operations management business with the following specialties:•Standards and process development programs for distribution and retail network businesses•Marketing and business planning for distribution and retail network businesses•Interactive (DVD/ CD based) business analysis and improvement platforms Show less

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  Subaru Australia

  Jan 2003 - Oct 2005

  National Sales & Network Development Manager

  National Sales and Network Development Manager. The role incorporated IT, Dealer Development, and training as well as full responsibility for sales, supply chain and network marketing management.

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  Inchcape Automotive Retail

  Nov 2005 - Jun 2010

  Dealer Principal

  SMN is a vertically integrated retailing business with single franchise responsibility. It is a (app.) $300M business (turnover) returning 4 – 4.3% on sales. The business has five primary dealerships, including the global Subaru flagship, Subaru Interactive @ Docklands. The business has a further two service satellites. The annual volume (2008) is 5000 new and 2200 used cars; the estimated service volume is 70,000 customer visits annually. SMN employs 250 people, including inbound call and internet customer response centres.The role includes all responsibility for balance sheet, revenue and expense; staff, budgeting (for revenue, growth, and expense), vehicle supply chain (OTD), sales and marketing. Show less

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  Subaru (Aust)

  Jul 2010 - Jun 2011

  General Manager, Aftersales

  Incorporates:♦ National Customer and Dealer Service♦ Technical and Product Engineering♦ National Parts and Accessories♦ Parts logistics and Distribution♦ "All 4 The Driver" Customer First Brand and Dealer This role includes parts import and distribution (including warehousing, logistics and pricing), channel development and management, product development and engineering, customer and dealer support (across a 113 dealer network), national customer call centre, internal and network training functions, customer lifecycle management (CRM), network development (including spatial opportunity analysis and expansion planning), customer, brand and marketing management for Aftersales, and P/L responsibility for the five units. Show less

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  Bob Jane Corporation

  Jun 2011 - Apr 2012

  National Operations Manager

  This was a National GM role, responsible for all franchise and channel operations and business development. The role was created to develop broader capability in strategic planning, customer service, and improved structure and discipline in corporate management. The role incorporates responsibility for the development and execution of overall organisational strategy, as well as the following specific elements:* Channel development and expansion* Supply chain strategy* Vertically integrated retail (27 retail outlets)* Network operations via state offices* Business Process Management - development and integration* Training * Staff development* WHS Show less

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  Odyssey Business Improvement

  Apr 2012 - May 2021

  Director and Owner

  CEO and Owner, Odyssey Business Improvement. Odyssey is a specialist retail/ distribution channel management consultancy, developed to meet a significant gap in the channel management and business support advisory market. Focusing on strategy, channel management and customer engagement, we provide business improvement and management services to distribution, manufacturing, SME and network businesses. o Strategy development: defining the “where” and “how” of strategy and developing competitive advantage, value proposition and positioning for client businesseso Organisational development - structure and functiono Channel Effectiveness - standards and processo Marketing Management – planning and executiono Customer Connection - process & peopleo Business workshop and conference speaking Show less

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  RANDEM Media

  Sept 2012 - Dec 2015

  Partner/ Director

  Partner/ Director, RANDEM Media. RANDEM Media is a digital design and development agency, specialising in solving consumer engagement, marketing, business productivity and process challenges through tailored digital platforms. Our clients include other marketing agencies, and direct clients. We employ over 50 full time staff, and provide a comprehensive suite of specialised digital services. We also develop and provide channel management platforms that significantly improve our client’s ability to manage their networks, customers and staff. We have won multiple awards for our work, and are one of the leading specialist digital agencies in the marketing and communications field. • Marketing and communications planning and strategy• User experience and interface design• Augmented reality• Tablet to cloud solutions• Desktop and web software platforms• Rich Media• Multimedia Design• SEO strategies Show less

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  Apd Australia

  Mar 2013 - Aug 2017

  Executive Director

  Executive Director, apd Australia. apd Australia offers a unique blend of customised business development and consultancy programs which are designed, developed & delivered by industry specialists with the appropriate knowledge, experience & qualifications to incorporate them into existing business processes.Specialising in the Automotive and Leasing sectors, apd programs are specifically designed to develop and improve performance levels, suitably adapted to optimise local market dynamics.Specialities include a number of unique platforms providing data driven analytics and corrective consultancy. o 360 – A unique live customer engagement feedback program, focussed on causal analysis and correction processo Data analysis and planning – networks, PARC, PMA and GISo Benchmarking – focussed on analysis of success drivers and on causal analysis and correction processo Network Viability – profit analysis and projection, supporting business growth and preventing business failureo Training o Consultancy Apd Australia - Driving business improvement through data analytics and operational consultancyo Data. Insights. Change. Show less

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  ECloud Business Services

  Aug 2014 - Aug 2015

  Strategic Advisory Board Member

  eCloud Business Services is market-leader in intelligent business document processing services. These include automated accounts payable processing; automated statement reconciliation; expense claim processing and credit card transaction authorisation.eCloud solutions reduce operational and financial inefficiencies incurred in the manual handling and processing of business documents. We use our own smart cloud based services – OASIS & NOVA – to provide these 24x7 from anywhere in the world.eCloud specialises in presenting data online from multiple electronic, paper and film sources and enabling the electronic processing of the business information. Our services export detailed sets of data to a variety of destination systems including financial accounting systems; HR & payroll systems; document management systems and CRMs. Show less

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  Deakin Business School

  Mar 2015 - Mar 2024

  Advisory Board Member, MBA Program

  To provide advice and recommendations to the faculty board

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  Deakin University

  Jul 2015 - Jun 2023

  Adjunct Professor

  This appointment supports the Deakin Business School MBA program through case study and applied practical class contributions to the Strategy unit.

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  Tyre Compare Pty Ltd

  Dec 2015 - Dec 2016

  Non Executive Director

  Non-Executive Board Director for Tyre Compare.www.tyrecompare.com.au is a comparison format website that assists consumers in the research and purchase of tyres from over 2,000 retailers nationally. It is a unique model that provides an outstanding service to customers seeking the best and most competitively priced tyres, as well as providing a highly effective and low cost e-commerce platform for tyre retailers.

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  Blue Ribbon Day Community Council

  Apr 2016 - Apr 2017

  Member

  Our aims and objectives are to encourage the public of Victoria to remember the sacrifice of officers who have fallen in the line of duty and to show all serving members of Victoria Police that their work and commitment is valued by a caring community.These aims are achieved through a wide range of projects and activities across Victoria that not only promote awareness but also raises funds for important projects that benefit all Victorians. The foundation provides funding for new and improved emergency facilities in public hospitals named in memory of fallen officers. It's a program that remembers lives by saving others.http://www.remember.org.au/About-Us/Overview Show less

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  Carers Australia

  Feb 2017 - Dec 2019

  Vice President

  Carers Australia is the national peak body representing Australia’s carers, advocating on behalf of Australia’s carers to influence policies and services at a national level. It works collaboratively with partners and its member organisations, the Network of state and territory Carers Associations, to deliver a range of essential national carer services.http://www.carersaustralia.com.au/home/

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  South Yarra BMW

  Sept 2017 - Nov 2018

  Dealer Principal and partner
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  DSS, Carers Australia

  Mar 2018 - Jun 2019

  Chair, Integrated Carer Support Service (ICSS) Online Education Resource working group.

  Working closely with the Department Social Services (DSS) and various academic organisations including the Sleep Health Foundation of Victoria, I chaired the governance committee that developed the online support resource for the ICSS. The role included facilitating research collaboration, editing and contributing content, and liaison with contributing agencies

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  DeakinCo.

  Feb 2019 - Oct 2022

  Credential Assessor

  Credentials Assessor, DeakinCo - providing candidate submission assessment for Deakin Masters and Bachelor’s level Professional Practice degree’s. Students undertaking Professional Practice courses gain their degree through a combination of Professional Practice credentialing and coursework units. These credential submissions are assessed for rigor against specific academic and practical assessment criteria and standards.

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  Cox Automotive Australia

  Sept 2019 - Jul 2024

  Strategic Planning Manager