The MTA Board welcomed two additional directors to the table last month, Grant Woolford and Tom Ruddenklau.

Grant has built up a company of successful Auckland motorcycle retail brands as Managing Director the Cyclespot Group. Meanwhile Tom has a portfolio of corporate management and leadership roles, including his time as General Manager of Volkswagen New Zealand and his current position as General Manager Marketing with Bapcor (BNT).

Both newly appointed directors see the biggest challenges for MTA being to stay relevant to members, adjusting to the impacts of Covid-19 and climate change, and helping lead the sector in the national shift to a low emission transport.

Tom says, “We are going to see more changes over the next five years than the industry has seen in generations. MTA has an important part to play in leading the sector through these changes and helping members to transition.”

He says MTA members are part of heartland New Zealand and it is vital MTA continues to add value to their businesses so they can continue to contribute to their communities.

Grant, who started out as an apprentice mechanic, also has an eye to the future and is keen for MTA to lead new training initiatives that entice more young people into the motor trade. “We need to work with schools to make sure young people are aware of all the career options there are within our sector. They need to know that specialist technical roles, sales, management and business ownership are all attainable within the motor trade.”