HSV chief engineer Joel Stoddart will switch from developing hot Holdens to designing caravans and motorhomes, when he takes up a new role as head of research and development at Jayco.
Stoddart is leaving Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) after recently overseeing the development of the latest range of V8-engined VF Commodores, including the most powerful car ever produced in Australia, the $100,000 supercharged HSV GTS.
He joined HSV as a project engineer in 1998 and was appointed chief engineer five and a half years ago.
The Jayco appointment comes after a number of initiatives from Melbourne-based Jayco, which started in 1976 and currently produces around 9000 RVs a year. Other recent developments include the debut of the first Jayco fifth-wheeler caravan as well as a toy hauler version of its popular Expanda caravan.
Jayco also recently built a dedicated automotive-style paint shop at its massive Dandenong factory.
Stoddart joins a growing number of people with extensive automotive experience that have moved across to the RV industry.
In January former Holden employee Paul Sparke was appointed National Sales & Marketing Manager at Perth-based Fleetwood Recreational Vehicles, which makes Coromal and Windsor caravans.
While experienced automotive engineer Murray Longe, who has worked at Holden and Nissan as well as on the aXcess Australia concept car project, has joined the technical team at RVM Australia to assist with the roll-out of the new RV Manufacturing Accreditation Program.