Tony Stephens joins VASA board as Robert Picone retires

Industry veteran Tony Stephens has joined the board of VASA. He was elected unopposed at the recent annual general meeting and fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Robert Picone, who had served on the board since 2012.

Tony began his career in 1978 at Martin Wilson Bros, then moved to Ingrams in 1986 when they opened in Queensland, spending 19 years as a rep and branch manager.

After Ingrams merged with Ashdown to form NAPA, Tony spent 15 years as a regional manager with Ashdown-Ingram/NAPA before joining CoolDrive as a regional manager and now as key project manager.

Beyond his work, he is a director of the largest basketball association in Queensland and a mentor for the Ladybird Care Foundation.

VASA president Brett Meads welcomed Tony to the board, while also thanking the existing directors who were all reappointed unopposed.

He added that the board was looking forward to a big year for VASA, including the complete update of the Australian automotive air-conditioning Code of Practice.

Mr Picone joined CoolDrive in March 1980 and spent 45 years with the company, helping establish its Bulleen premises in the early 1980s before relocating to Sydney in 2002 to set up the Seven Hills branch.

He returned to Melbourne in 2011 and held a series of leadership and executive roles at the company’s Box Hill headquarters, including a period as director.

Mr Picone was inducted into the CoolDrive Hall of Fame in 2017 as its longest-serving employee. His time on the VASA board was driven by a focus on training and education, and the role wholesalers play in disseminating technical information across the industry.