National Windscreens has attracted a major investor and announced new management along with a number of appointments.
Private equity firm Nash Capital has acquired a majority stake in the Melbourne-based company, with founder and previous owner Eric Heine remaining on the board of directors and a shareholder. Campbell Jones joined National Windscreens as Group CEO after the acquisition, while all key management have been retained.
“This is truly an exciting time for National Windscreens, our customers and staff,” said Jones. The result of Nash Capital becoming a majority shareholder will be a significant investment in our people, facilities, equipment and the expansion of our network through company owned branches.
“The auto glass sector represents one of the best growth opportunities in the automotive industry with specialised technology like ADAS at the forefront of the potential. We are planning on elevating National Windscreen’s capability in not only this area but in our overall service offering and branch footprint.”
Current CEO Brad Jansons will become Executive General Manager Auto Glass.
“Brad has been instrumental in our success over the past six years and will focus on improving our auto glass business throughout Australia [and] with the Nash investment, he is armed to provide our teams with improved tools, training and a number of strategies to grow our business,” said Jones.
The company also appointed Rob Mildenhall to Executive General Manager ADAS Services. “Rob’s focus is to deliver a national comprehensive ADAS business not only for glass repair but all auto repair-related ADAS services. This is an enormous opportunity in its own right,” said Jones.
Under the senior management structure, Jansons, Mildenhall, General Manager Aida Mann and newly appointed CFO Nicholas Zarafonitis will report to the Group CEO.
“We are genuinely excited to now be part of National Windscreens and the prospect of growing a large national business focused on the auto glass and ADAS sector,” said Sean O’Neill, Managing Director of Nash Capital and incoming Chairman of National Windscreens. “We are equally thrilled to be partnering with Eric Heine and the Heine family. We’re looking forward to the future, but we also want to respect the great business Eric has built over the past 35-plus years.”
According to O’Neill, National Windscreens represents an excellent growth opportunity. “We believe that National Windscreens can grow dramatically over the [next] three to five years and Nash is prepared to invest heavily into the business to achieve that growth. We will work with the board and management team to provide the support our people need and deserve to make National Windscreens the number one brand in auto glass and ADAS services,” he said.
The board of directors will consist of O’Neill and fellow Nash Managing Director Lucas Couper in addition to Heine, who will step down from day-to-day duties.
“I’m very excited to start this partnership with Nash Capital,” said Heine. “We will create opportunities for our staff and customers as we expand our footprint across Australia as we acquire and open new branches. It’s an amazing business and I have loved being involved in it pretty much for my entire working life. I have thoroughly enjoyed working alongside our staff, our customers and our many partners across Australia. I have full faith in Campbell and the existing team to take National Windscreens to a new level.”