Mark Bernhard has begun his tenure as chairman and managing director of GM Holden.
He began his career with Holden in 1986, and has held senior finance roles across GM globally in his 19-year career. He is based at GM Holden headquarters in Port Melbourne, Australia.
Mark says he feels excited and privileged to be returning home to Holden to lead a great company.
“Holden has a promising future and I’m energised to be able to lead the incredibly talented and passionate team,” said Mr Bernhard. “Holden’s future success will be built on three pillars: brand, product and customer experience.”
“Having started my career with Holden, I understand the strength of the brand and its importance to New Zealand and Australia and our customers. My job is to protect and
enhance that for future generations.
“Establishing Holden as New Zealand’s favourite car brand means an unrelenting focus on our customers, redefining the Holden brand for a modern New Zealand and launching 24 world-class vehicles by 2020.
“Our mission is to build a future that honours our brand and our past, with the best vehicles from across the General Motors world. This is not going to happen overnight and we have a lot of hard work in front of us, but we have the right plan, the right products and the right people to make Holden a success story for many years to come.
“I’d also like to thank Jeff Rolfs who has done an outstanding job as interim chairman and managing director throughout this year. Jeff will resume his role as Holden’s chief financial officer,” he said.
The commencement of Bernhard in the role of chairman and managing director is the latest step in Holden’s strategic plan. Over the past 18 months, Holden has outlined a
number of programmes and announcements that signal the Lion brand’s long-term strategy:
- Holden will have 24 major vehicle launches with 36 new powertrain combinations in the next five years
- Cascada convertible, Astra hatch and Insignia sedan have launched in 2015
- Holden vehicles will continue to be tuned and tested for New Zealand conditions and customers with the retention of the famous Lang Lang Proving Ground in Victoria
- Holden’s Global Design Centre continues to contribute to local and global product programs
- More than one-third of Holden’s future product portfolio will be sourced from Europe
- The esteemed Commodore nameplate will live on with Holden’s next-generation large car
- And Holden will have a true sports car in its future product portfolio.
Mark Bernhard was previously vice president and chief financial officer of Shanghai GM in Shanghai, China, a position he held since November 2011. He also was a member of the GM-SAIC joint venture’s executive committee.
Mark began his GM career with GM Holden in 1986, holding various positions in the Finance function.
He relocated to Zurich, Switzerland, in 1996 as Manager of Budgets and Consolidation for the then GM International Operations. In 1998, Mark was appointed Director of Financial Reporting and Analysis for GM International Operations in Detroit. Two years later, he took on the role of Director of Special Projects at GM Asia Pacific in Singapore, working on the acquisition of Daewoo Motor Company.
In 2002, Mark became vice president and chief financial officer of Shanghai GM. He was appointed Chief Financial Officer of the GM China Group in 2005. He returned to Australia in 2007 as CFO and Executive Director of Finance for GM Holden, navigating the global financial crisis.
Mark has a Bachelor of Business (accounting) degree from Monash University, as well as a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Deakin University. He is an FCPA with CPA Australia and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).
Mark received the Silver Magnolia Award from the Shanghai Municipal Government, which is given to expatriates for their contribution to the economic development of the city. He also received the 2014 Australia China Alumni Award for Banking and Finance.
