Joel Wright

General Manager - Ashmore

How many years’ experience in the Auto Industry?
25 years in total & first 12 month in service & parts at Tweed Holden.

How many years have you worked for von Bibra & what position/s have you held?
120 years, I have worked as a Sales Consultant & Sales Manager for a variety of manufacturers across 3 locations, Beginning in Tweed then at Ashmore. In 2012 moved into the General Sales Managers role at Helensvale in total for 8 years and returned back to Ashmore as General Sales manager in 2020. After serving under Max Johnson as his "Apprentice" I have now taken on the role as General Manager effective July 2022.

Who did you previously work for and what was your role there?
Tweed Motors Holden (Previous owners before von Bibra's purchased the business in 2002) Started in parts & service & moved to used car sales where I commenced my cadetship. Great family business which intern was taken over by another successful business in the name of the von Bibra family.

Where did you grow up?
Locally at Burleigh Heads & born in Southport, so in someway I have always lived & worked in the same area, I'm sure that makes me a true local.

Favourite quote or best piece of advice given to you?
Perfection is the total sum of a lot of small things done very well. Which ties in very well with what my grandfather said to me when I was 8yrs old on the back of his tractor mowing over 15 acres of land. "In life bite off more than you can chew, then chew like hell".

Chris Rockell

General Sales Manager - Ashmore

How many years’ experience in the Auto Industry?
I have had 6 years this November in the industry and all my time with von Bibra.

How many years have you worked for von Bibra & what position/s have you held?
I have been with the company 6 years in November, I started my career in Ashmore Honda after progressing to the Nissan Sales manager for 4 ½ years. Now into General Sales Manager as of 1st July 2022

Who did you previously work for and what was your role there?
I worked for von Bibra Honda Ashmore, being the number 1 salesperson for over a year hitting 20+ sales every month. Then into the Nissan Managers chair consistently being number 1 in the region for 3 years running.

What do you love most about your job?
I love that I can provide my family a better opportunity in life and bright future with my hard work, love helping my team/ friends achieve an amazing result so they can achieve their dreams!!

Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Cornwall, UK

Favourite quote or best piece of advice given to you?
Best quote would have to be from my grandad, to achieve anything in life Chris he said remember the 6 P’s prior preparation prevents, piss, poor, performance. The quality of the question will provide you the quality of the answer.

JACKSON BOT

Honda Sales Manager – Ashmore

How many years’ experience in the Auto Industry?
5 years 2 months, all with the von Bibra family.

How many years have you worked for von Bibra & what position/s have you held?
Starting as a trainee in Used Cars in June 2015. Relief sales manager from September 2018 and Honda Sales Manager from August 2020.

Who did you previously work for and what was your role there?
I worked in the hospitality industry from the age of 12 until I was almost 25. Starting as a trainee chef and working my way up the ranks to Head Chef, through small restaurants, 4.5 years with the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Center, and aproximately 6 years in 5 star Hotels.

What do you love most about your job?
Meeting new people every day, hearing their stories, helping them find their new car and the excitement on their faces when they collect their new car! It's a job full of new challenges every day, challenges that help you grow and develop both personally and professionally.

Where did you grow up?
I was born in Dandenong, Victoria but I grew up here on the Gold Coast.

Favourite quote or best piece of advice given to you?
Don't be busy, be productive.
Do or do not. There is no try - Yoda

TIM BOWMAN

NISSAN CAR SALES MANAGER - ASHMORE

How many years’ experience in the Auto Industry?
6 ½ years

How many years have you worked for von Bibra & what position/s have you held?
Started with von Bibra Ashmore 6 ½ years ago as a Honda Sales Consultant, then moved Into Relief Sales Manager at Ashmore for 18 months and now into my current role as Nissan Sales Manager.

Who did you previously work for and what was your role there?
I was a competitive skier in NZ and aiming to compete in the World Juniors in 2014 Winter Olympics but had a fall and ended up having surgery. I have also worked in nightclubs and hospitality as a host.

What do you love most about your job?
The people and the culture here!

Where did you grow up?
Timaru, South Island New Zealand

Favourite quote or best piece of advice given to you?
The bad news is, Time flies. The good news is, you’re the pilot

ARTY FARR

GMSV AND USED CAR SALES MANAGER - ASHMORE

How many years’ experience in the Auto Industry?
13 years

How many years have you worked for von Bibra & what position/s have you held?
13 years and I have worked in various roles starting as a used car salesperson then moved into Internet sales. After a couple years I started selling new cars, Nissan, LDV and Chevrolet before moving into a Group Fleet role. In 2022 I have taken up the role as Used Car and GMSV Sales Manager at Ashmore.

Who did you previously work for and what was your role there?
Account manager - Sales, based in Melbourne and Sydney

What do you love most about your job?
Meeting new people and working with my team to work through our challenges and achieve positive results every day.

Where did you grow up?
Born in South Africa, grew up in Melbourne and the Gold Coast.

Favourite quote or best piece of advice given to you?
Sell the sizzle not the sausage!

MICHELLE HIRNING

ADMINISTRATION MANAGER - ASHMORE

How many years’ experience in the Auto Industry?
20 years.

How many years have you worked for von Bibra & what position/s have you held?
20 years, I started as receptionist at Tweed, then moved into registrations and deal processing. In 2005 I moved to Ashmore as Honda Stock Control, then Nissan Stock Control before moving into Used Car Stock Control for 10 years. In 2022 I moved into the role of Administration Manager.

Who did you previously work for and what was your role there?
I was at Netcar Motors in Tweed, before Von Bibra purchased the dealership and took over.

What do you love most about your job?
The people I work with and learning new things

Where did you grow up?
Toowoomba

Favourite quote or best piece of advice given to you?
The grass isn’t always greener on the other side, its greener where you water it.

Reece Murphy

Nissan Service Manager - Ashmore

How many years’ experience in the Auto Industry?
11 years.

How many years have you worked for von Bibra & what position/s have you held?
I started as an Apprentice mechanic, became a Technician and GTR High performance technician then moved into a Service Advisor role, thenH to my current position of Service Manager at Ashmore.

Who did you previously work for and what was your role there?
Apprentice mechanic in small automotive shop

What do you love most about your job?
Overcoming the day to day challenges

Where did you grow up?
Canberra/Gold coast

Favourite quote or best piece of advice given to you?
Carpe diem

Drew Conway

Honda Service Manager - Ashmore

How many years’ experience in the Auto Industry?
20 years.

How many years have you worked for von Bibra & what position/s have you held?
8 years with von Bibra, firstly as the Helensvale Service Manager transferred to Ferry Rd in the Service Manager Now Southport Honda and loving every minute.

Who did you previously work for and what was your role there?
I worked with Zupps as a Technician & service Advisors & with AHG as Fixed operations manager

What do you love most about your job?
The people! Working together improving daily and having fun while doing it.

Where did you grow up?
Port Macquarie NSW.

Favourite quote or best piece of advice given to you?
“The way we communicate with others & with ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives”