<p>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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />🎧 Listen on SPOTIFY/APPLE/AMAZON/IHEART/DEEZER:<br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://theautomotivetalentshow.riverside.com" target="_blank">theautomotivetalentshow.riverside.com</a><br /><br />🎬 Full Episodes:<br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://youtube.com/@AutomotivetalentAu" target="_blank">youtube.com/@AutomotivetalentAu</a><br /><br />🎬 Clips &amp; Shorts:<br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://youtube.com/@AutomotivetalentAu/shorts" target="_blank">youtube.com/@AutomotivetalentAu/shorts</a><br /><br />📱 FOLLOW US<br />Instagram: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://instagram.com/automotivetalent" target="_blank">instagram.com/automotivetalent</a><br />LinkedIn: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://linkedin.com/company/automotive-talent" target="_blank">linkedin.com/company/automotive-talent</a><br />Facebook: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://facebook.com/AutomotiveTalent" target="_blank">facebook.com/AutomotiveTalent</a><br />X/Twitter: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://x.com/Auto_Talent" target="_blank">x.com/Auto_Talent</a><br />Podcast LinkedIn: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://linkedin.com/showcase/the-automotive-talent-show-podcast/" target="_blank">linkedin.com/showcase/the-automotive-talent-show-podcast/</a><br /><br />👥 Host:<br />Cameron Cresswell<br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://linkedin.com/in/cameroncresswell/" target="_blank">linkedin.com/in/cameroncresswell/</a><br /><br />🎤 Guest:<br />Andrew Hillcoat<br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://linkedin.com/in/andrew-hillcoat-1ba23139" target="_blank">linkedin.com/in/andrew-hillcoat-1ba23139</a><br /><br />CHAPTERS:<br />00:00 The Journey Begins: From Toowoomba to the Automotive Industry<br />02:26 Automotive is an Inviting Industry<br />03:36 Navigating the Luxury Automotive Landscape<br />06:29 Experiences in the Middle East: A Unique Perspective<br />10:14 Transitioning Back to Australia: Lessons Learned<br />12:04 The Importance of After Sales in Automotive<br />14:53 Maximizing Profitability: Strategies for Success<br />18:00 Driving Performance: Key Metrics and Insights<br />20:56 Integrating Sales and Service Departments<br />22:24 Accountability in Sales and Service<br />24:15 The Role of Mentorship in Business<br />25:07 Addressing Underperformance in Dealerships<br />27:07 Maximizing Productivity and Efficiency<br />28:26 Rethinking Non-Productive Staff<br />30:17 The Impact of AI on Dealership Operations<br />33:19 The Future of AI in the Automotive Industry<br />35:22 Communication is Always a People's Job<br />38:32 Evolving Roles of Dealership Management<br />41:18 Navigating Industry Changes and Challenges<br />44:46 The Importance of Leadership Optics<br />47:36 Building Credibility and First Impressions<br />49:45 Maintaining a Positive Leadership Presence<br />49:59 Final Outro</p>