VACC Leadership Battle: Apathy May Decide $150million Prize

TMR EDITORIAL

The Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce, VACC, is this week, with FCAI, staging the Australian International Motor in Sydney.

It's one of a number of high profile things that VACC, one of Australia's oldest and most financially-strong industry associations, is involved in.

But there is also something else going on this week that poses considerable risk to what VACC's 5300 members affectionately call 'The Chamber'.

Later this week, the Australian Electoral Commission will be mailing ballot papers to VACC members to conduct an election for the Executive Director's chair - currently held by long-standing ED, David Purchase.

Up for grabs is control of VACC operations and, with it, its asset portfolio, believed to total in the vicinity of $150million.

And this year, for the first time in VACC's 94-year history, there is a hostile coup afoot for the top job.

Leading the coup is an outsider, Lynden Kenyon, a suburban lawyer who has been conscripted - it would seem - by a band of disaffected body repairers.

Managing Editor - The Motor Report