HSV boss resigns suddenly

[DanielXR8]

Would have liked to be a fly on the wall for when this happened...

HSV boss resigns suddenly
Richard Blackburn, drive.com.au, August 1, 2008

HSV boss Scott Grant has resigned from the company after just 14 months at the helm.
Former HSV boss Scott Grant

Former HSV boss Scott Grant

Scott Grant has resigned as CEO of Holden Special Vehicles after just 14 months in the role.

The company released a brief statement this afternoon saying that Grant had resigned and will return to Sydney to “pursue other career opportunities”.

The statement says the resignation is “effective immediately”.

Sources say Grant, who left Toyota to join HSV, has not left for another job. Rumours suggest there may have been a falling out between Grant and HSV owner, fiery Scot Tom Walkinshaw.

There is, however, no reference to a difference of opinion in the HSV statement, which simply says: “HSV wishes to thank Scott for his contribution to the business over the last 14 months.”

The shock announcement comes just weeks after HSV's fastest, most expensive model - the new HSV W427 - went on sale.

Phil Harding, who held the top job at HSV before Grant, will take over as chief executive officer of HSV “with immediate effect”.

Harding has been based in Europe looking after HSV’s budding export business.

Drive has been unable to contact Scott Grant for comment.

Grant, who brought marketing and sales expertise to the engineering-focused HSV group, told journalists when he joined HSV that he believed the company’s product line-up was too narrowly focused.

In a recent interview he told Drive he was keen to attract more European car buyers to the HSV brand. “When you start talking about European buyers, we’ve probably still got opportunity to expand the product further in terms of its specification level to attract those people,” he said.

He saw exports as a key opportunity for the brand.

“Export is an area of growth (for HSV). It’s a great economic opportunity in markets around the world.”

He was also keen to boost sales of the Astra-based VXR hatch.

“I’d like to see the hatch (VXR) do better … I think that’s an opportunity to sell more cars. It’s relatively new in the marketplace. The Astra (VXR) provides an opportunity to speak to new customers.

“If you could agree that HSV’s buyer profile has been a bit narrow … what we’re trying to do over time – and we have the opportunity now with the current Astra – is to go a little bit younger, and a little bit different mindset with that product,” he says.

He also wanted to take the company’s dealer network more upmarket.

“My vision would be – I would love to see a beautiful, luxurious showroom where you’ve got everything from the Astra high-performance hatch all the way through to a long-wheelbase luxury cars and the various derivatives in between, presented in a way that’s different to general market Holden. For the most part we don’t have that through our dealer network currently and we also don’t have the dealer network that believe that can sell the broader range of product to a broader range of product.”

[sandmanls1]

I think he may have been pushed that was classic gm speakfor you have got whacked.

[TOASTED]

Originally Posted by sandmanls1

I think he may have been pushed that was classic gm speakfor you have got whacked.

yea i agree

[DBourne]

sounds like his ideas were a bit too different from the rest of the company, and in the end he lost out.

[Sprint347]

Looks like him and Mr ****ingshaw had a falling out, these things happen

[nutter_x]

Originally Posted by DanielXR8

“My vision would be – I would love to see a beautiful, luxurious showroom where you’ve got everything from the Astra high-performance hatch all the way through to a long-wheelbase luxury cars and the various derivatives in between, presented in a way that’s different to general market Holden. For the most part we don’t have that through our dealer network currently and we also don’t have the dealer network that believe that can sell the broader range of product to a broader range of product.”

Does anyone else remember Ford/Tickford's FTE program?

[azaxr8]

If you think differently then me your a drop kick obviously....... He had good fresh ideas, guess we will never no now.

[pauljh74]

It said he wanted to bring more Europeans to the brand, wanted to bring some sophistication to HSV - the cashed up bogans weren't happy about that I'm sure!

[Sorted]

Oh, i always thought Mark Skaife was the HSV boss.............lol

[burnz]

Originally Posted by Sorted

Oh, i always thought Mark Skaife was the HSV boss.............lol

no he's HRT boss

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by burnz

no he's HRT boss

No Tom Walkinshaw is HRT's boss....

[gcg2503]

Chuck Norris is their boss?

[FPVF6X201]

I thought the Boss was a Ford V8?

[burnz]

Originally Posted by gcg2503

Chuck Norris is their boss?

your right just checked
http://www.nochucknorris.com/

[data_mine]

In related news.

HSV celebrates by boring out the LS3 (again).

[StookEB]

Originally Posted by pauljh74

It said he wanted to bring more Europeans to the brand, wanted to bring some sophistication to HSV - the cashed up bogans weren't happy about that I'm sure!

Yes well FORD should talk to him about giving him an oppurtunity to improve their sophistication across the board (dealerships, marketing etc).

[snappy]

Originally Posted by gcg2503

Chuck Norris is their boss?

[Jayden]

his next idea was a 12 liter commodore priced at $600,000 in a limited run of 10.

only a guess, but it was an (slightly) educated one. :P

[Ringo]

maybe he got busted looking at Ford Forums....

[deathlucky]

Originally Posted by gcg2503

Chuck Norris is their boss?

hahaha chuck norris isnt there boss he it everyones boss

[satria]

The boss IS a Ford V8, who is the boss of mrs walkinshaw, who is the boss of hsv, who is the boss of skaife, who is apparently the boss of hrt. hmmmmm

[Serial_Fool]

Not the current Ford "Boss" though.

[Biggav]

way too many bosses

so he got boned maybe eddy could fill the role havent seen his mug for awhile?