Woolworths’ former long-serving chairman James Strong is being linked to the top job at V8 Supercars, replacing Tony Cochrane.
The Australian Financial Review reports that Archer Capital, majority owners of V8 Supercars, is aiming to secure Strong to fill the leadership void created by the company’s founding chairman Cochrane.
Cochrane announced in late September that he would step down from his post, citing at the time that it “felt right” to move on.
Cochrane hinted to Speedcafe.com at Bathurst that his replacement would come within a month, and the link between Strong and the job, it seems, has come within the time frame that Cochrane suggested.
Strong, 68, is a leading Australian businessman and held the position as Woolworths’ chairman for 11 years. He is stepping down from that post later this month at the company’s annual general meeting.
Before Woolworths, Strong was the chief executive of Qantas and chairman of Insurance Australia Group.
Besides other interests in arts and sports, Strong also currently sits on the board of outdoor equipment and clothing company Kathmandu.
V8 Supercars’ CEO David Malone told Speedcafe.com recently that he expects the appointment of a new chairman to be confirmed in the near future.
“The board are looking for a new chairman at the moment,” Malone told Speedcafe.com.
“We actually haven’t set a time frame on it but I would expect it would be resolved before the end of the year.”
