Andrew Hillcoat has spent more than 40 years in the automotive industry, building a career that has taken him from apprentice technician in regional Queensland to luxury automotive leadership roles across Australia and the Middle East.

In this conversation with Cameron Cresswell, Andrew shares lessons from every stage of that journey—from launching Maybach and SLR McLaren in the Middle East to helping dealerships across Australia unlock growth, improve performance, and navigate an increasingly competitive market.

Andrew Hillcoat talks about why aftersales remains one of the most overlooked opportunities in automotive retail, the leadership habits that separate great operators from average ones, and how dealerships can uncover significant profit through better process, accountability, and customer retention.

Whether you're a Dealer Principal, Service Manager, sales leader, or simply passionate about the automotive industry, this episode is packed with practical insights from someone who has seen the business from every angle.

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👥 Host:
Cameron Cresswell
linkedin.com/in/cameroncresswell/

🎤 Guest:
Andrew Hillcoat
linkedin.com/in/andrew-hillcoat-1ba23139

CHAPTERS:
00:00 The Journey Begins: From Toowoomba to the Automotive Industry
02:26 Automotive is an Inviting Industry
03:36 Navigating the Luxury Automotive Landscape
06:29 Experiences in the Middle East: A Unique Perspective
10:14 Transitioning Back to Australia: Lessons Learned
12:04 The Importance of After Sales in Automotive
14:53 Maximizing Profitability: Strategies for Success
18:00 Driving Performance: Key Metrics and Insights
20:56 Integrating Sales and Service Departments
22:24 Accountability in Sales and Service
24:15 The Role of Mentorship in Business
25:07 Addressing Underperformance in Dealerships
27:07 Maximizing Productivity and Efficiency
28:26 Rethinking Non-Productive Staff
30:17 The Impact of AI on Dealership Operations
33:19 The Future of AI in the Automotive Industry
35:22 Communication is Always a People's Job
38:32 Evolving Roles of Dealership Management
41:18 Navigating Industry Changes and Challenges
44:46 The Importance of Leadership Optics
47:36 Building Credibility and First Impressions
49:45 Maintaining a Positive Leadership Presence
49:59 Final Outro