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1. Aren't you supposed to be retired?
"My latest business card says I am John Crennan of HSV.
"So, I am retired. It is just that I have elected to spend 60 hours a week in this business, rather than just sit on the beach or in the bar or in a newsagency every day.
"I genuinely loathe titles. I have never singed a letter as managing director or chairman of HSV."
2. Can't you stop working?
"It is probably a combination of enjoying the work and, with the racing activities coming back to Tom Walkingshaw, the amount of work involved in the organisational, marketing and commerical side of that. It was reasonably important that I got hold of that and put it back to full speed.
"The combination of that happening at the same time as I was going to wind back has changed things a bit for me."
3. What is the difference in your new role with HSV as chairman?
"Oh, look, probably the major differenece operationally is that instead of having eight people report to me I only have three. And, in that, it allows me to do a lot of projects that hopefully will provide even more brand enhancement for HSV and more opportunities for the group.
"One of those is a 'World of HSV' project that I've been working on for six months. It's an umbrella brand that embodies our innovation and passion with a range of activities. So it's cars, dealers customers, consumers, the internet, motoring shows.
"And we're going to have a very big presnce at the race meetings now, involving PWR, Tasman, Toll, and HSV and HRT. It's our suite of other brands."
4. That sounds like a fulltime job?
"I am working those 60 hours. But it's being done on some projects that I have always wanted to do for the betterment of our business."
5. So you carry the HSV torch?
"Look, this is now a younger person's business and I hope I can be developing and grooming the people who will eventually carry the torch.
"I'm very happy with this backroom role. But every now and then I will jump out to the front of the shop when I think it is necessary.
"I think I understand the core DNA of what is HSV and what makes an HSV customer."
6. So, looking forward, what is the future for HSV?
"In terms of what will be different, hopefully a lot more exports. And a lot more leveraging of our motorsport activities into other busienss areas, such as the aftermarket and setting standards in the aftermarket that will be the benchmark.
"And, most importantly, delivering and exceeding Holden's expectations of what they want from us.
"Our mantra going forward is 'where everything high performance lives', that is what HSV is."
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