News posted 21/12/2009
"The ADF has a very exciting future"
Welcoming members and guests to the Automotive Distribution Federation’s Annual Dinner, the incoming ADF President, Tony Sackett posed two questions:
What has the ADF ever done for me?
Has the ADF got a future?
Tackling the first question he listed many of the activities where the ADF has been busy representing IAM interests, and livelihoods, and argued that this alone made the Federation vital for the aftermarket’s future.
Turning to his second question, he was clear in his mind that the ADF very definitely has a future.
He reminded the audience that the future of our industry was the theme of the ADF conference held earlier that day, at which he had presented the ADF’s strategic plan.
“The guiding influence is our mission to serve, strengthen, and promote the independent aftermarket on behalf of its members for consumer benefit,” he explained.
“Our future is under threat from Vehicle Manufacturers who would much rather there wasn’t an Independent Aftermarket. Many of these are huge corporations with seemingly endless deep pockets, and they pack a punch when it comes to getting their voice heard,” he said. “For us in the Independent Aftermarket, it’s like David squaring up to Goliath, but if history tells us anything, or more recently if you’re a boxing fan, Goliath can be beaten with the right strategy and the right tactics.
“UK Government and Brussels don’t know who to turn to when they want to hear the collective voice of the Independent Aftermarket, currently nobody unites the hundreds of thousands of people working in our sector, and so what they hear is a diluted message. Having said that I’d like to recognise the excellent work done by the R2RC team in challenging the VM’s on Block Exemption Regulation
“Building on our strategic aim to drive towards a Unified Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation we plan to make two significant announcements in January.
“These announcements will step change our organisation and provide the scale for the ADF to be the true representative voice of our industry and enable effective lobbying on critical issues for our futures.
“Announcements that will transform our membership and enable David to beat Goliath again, said the ADF President.
He explained however, that he was bound by confidentiality so could not expand on these plans that evening, “Other than to say watch this space!”
He concluded, “So in answer to the question: ‘has the ADF got a Future?’’ I can answer; the ADF has a very exciting future”.
During his address, Tony Sackett took a moment to invite the ADF’s immediate past President, Quintin Cornforth, onto stage to receive a token of recognition from his colleagues for guiding the Board and Council for the past two years. “I’m sure you will all join me in thanking Quintin for his contribution,” he said.
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