Crawford: Blast from the past
David Crawford retires as chief executive of the Motor Industry Association (MIA) at the end of March next year. A trip to Autofile’s archives reveals how his appointment was reported a decade ago. What follows is an edited version of an article on Crawford, along with the photo that ran with it, which appeared in the October 8, 2012, issue of the magazine.
Strong credentials for top job
He used to be the man from the ministry, but in early 2013 David Crawford will take up his position as a man for the industry.
There was fierce competition for the position of chief executive officer of the Motor Industry Association (MIA) and to take over the reins from Perry Kerr, who had been in the job for more than two decades. In the end, the MIA plumped for an applicant with government, trade association and automotive experience.
Crawford’s trade credentials stem from being executive director of the Petroleum Exploration Association (PEA). From 2005-09, he was general manager of environment and safety at the Ministry of Transport (MoT).
There he developed new rules and initiatives, which involved working with the new and used-vehicle sectors so he got to know the industry.
It was while working in government that Crawford first came across Kerr. “In my first week at the MoT, I hardly had my feet under the desk when I received a call from Perry. I got to know him from my time at the PEA when we pooled resources for submissions.
“I listened as he berated to me about how the MIA’s relationship with the MoT had broken down. I told him the area was under new management, that next time he was in Wellington we should have coffee, and that I understood the issue and that he felt aggrieved.”
They met one sunny afternoon in Woodward Lane off Lambton Quay and a few cups of coffee later they better understood the other’s point of view. “We started working on open dialogue and sharing information and stopped running each other down.
“As part of government policy to consult, we tested the voracity of ideas by ringing up people such as Perry. We would also hypothetically ask what the impact of something would be and it was also pointed out what the real issues were.”
As for Crawford joining the MIA, about 50 applications for the chief executive position were whittled down to 11. Then the final five gave presentations, which included what they thought were the key issues for the association.
“I said I wanted to ensure the transition from Perry went smoothly,” says Crawford. “He has a lot of institutional knowledge. When you have someone like that, you need to know how to tap into that.
“The approach for this transition needs to ensure I get as much information as possible and we’re already working on that. I need to understand the MIA’s agenda, timelines, monthly cycles for car sales and other statistics, and meet those on sub-committees and find out what their agendas are.”
The transition will be for four months starting in late February, when Crawford will come up to Kerr’s office in Auckland for a few months. The office will then be moved to Wellington, with Kerr going down for a couple of months until he retires.
“For 12 months from July, if I need to tap into his knowledge we’ll be able to contact him. To have such a managed transition and have Perry as an adviser for 12 months is progressive of the MIA. This is a small office, but a substantive position with gravitas.”
Crawford says the office’s location is not of great importance – Kerr was based in the capital for many years. When in Wellington, Kerr travelled to Auckland regularly, and while in the City of Sails he has often flown to the capital, “so it’s six of one, half a dozen of the other”.
“My family are here and we have children at university. My parents and some relatives are in and around Auckland, but we preferred not to move at this time. Staying here means the least disruption and being close to government departments. The place isn’t important as long as my work is effective for the MIA and its members.”
Crawford has an understanding of the issues involved, but needs to reconnect with industry players and get out and about. He works best when meeting people face to face.
“Each motor-vehicle company has its own personalities. I’ll be paying attention to the range of vehicles each has and the make-up of the segments MIA members are in.”
One sector Crawford is well-acquainted with is motorcycling – he rides a 2006 950cc Triumph Tiger around town. The self-confessed petrolhead has had a couple of toys in his time, including a Nissan Skyline GT-T, which his wife sometimes needs to remind him is actually hers, and a powerful jet-ski.
Crawford also needs to reconnect with the government sector, but he’s already well-known in Wellington circles. “I’ve held senior management positions in a range of departments and know key senior staff.” He gained good knowledge at the MoT on how regulations and rules work, and the processes through which legislation is made and changed. “How government works is a key area for any trade association.”
Current issues facing the MIA include all-terrain vehicles and roll bars, licensing and Safer Journeys – its next action plan is being drafted, so there will need to be industry input into it.
If National wins a third term, Crawford predicts more regulatory changes, in a similar vein to Consumer Law Reform Bill and the Vehicle Licensing Review. If Labour governs with the Greens, he expects more environmental issues to be on the agenda, such as climate change and fuel efficiency. As for issues facing the automotive industry in the mid to long-term, he predicts “there will be some, there always will be”.
Trip back in time
David Crawford will bring a wide range of experience to the MIA as its new chief executive. When he found out he got the job, he was acting director of minerals with NZ Petroleum and Minerals at the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment.
Crawford also owns DCAC Ltd, a small consulting company that specialises in managing work programmes and major projects, and providing temporary senior executive support, public policy and regulatory advice.
He sits on the Motorcycle Safety Advisory Council and is a director of ACDC Solutions Ltd, a property management and rental company in the capital and Wanganui. Up until May 2012, he was on the Wellington District Council of the AA.
Crawford’s general manager positions were policy and regulatory with Land Information NZ, and land transport environment and safety with the MoT. He was executive director of the Petroleum Exploration and Production Association of NZ for three years, and has also worked for Maritime NZ, the Department of Conservation and as a junior lecturer at Massey University.
Top job transition going well
What follows is an edited version of an article that appeared in the March 22, 2013, issue of Autofile magazine:
Major changes at the helm of an automotive organisation are now under way. David Crawford is working for the MIA as its new chief executive as part of the handover from Perry Kerr.
“David officially came on-board with us on February 25 and will be up here in our Auckland office for the next few weeks,” Kerr told Autofile. “We will then be physically moving the office down to Wellington, where David lives, around April 18.
“He’s sitting on the front seat more and I’m now more on the back seat, busy taking him through all of the industry statistics before moving onto the policy side.”
Crawford has been concentrating on monthly processes with the MIA’s collection of data for members and on the agendas for the association’s committees. “It’s good to be looking forward after coming on-board,” he says. “I’m delighted to be here and very enthusiastic about the future.”
As part of the managed transition until the end of June, Crawford will be getting out to meet and greet people before the office goes to the capital.
With Clive Hellyar, manager of the MIA’s motorcycle division, finishing at the same time as Kerr, Crawford will be responsible for all the association’s committees. “My priority is not to lose any traction in the transition,” explains Crawford. “As well as understanding more of the rationale and information that flows around, I’ll be getting to meet people and liaising with government departments over the issues.”
