We are industry specialists
It is with great pride that I introduce my impressive team of focused individuals whom all bring so much to the CDS name.
For over 35 years Ron has been providing technical and advisory services particularly to the automotive industry. With extensive dealership, technical and consulting skills, Ron's footprint has been felt at many dealerships worldwide with invaluable solutions that have been thoughtfully placed throughout the market. Ron's ability to unlock and organise data into meaningful information has won him the trust of many dealerships, groups and OEM's alike.
Arne Bettin
B. Bus (Accounting)
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Having joined in 2007, Arne brought extensive commercial experience in the accounting world to CDS. Arne held previous positions in both public practice and private industry, ranging from Chartered Accountants to various Financial Controller roles in Small to Medium Enterprises.
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Throughout his 30 years of experience on the wider business stage, Arne has adopted and acquired valuable knowledge in dealership accounting best practices.
Having personally dealt with the breadth of responsibilites that accompany the aforementioned roles and transposing those key skills to the dealership sector, today Arne manages a dedicated team focused on deploying and supporting management reporting solutions.
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Arne's attention to detail and disciplined approach to tackling workloads combined with his extensive experience in management reporting and troubleshooting accounting issues are valuable attributes that contribute strongly to his role at CDS.
Richard Nicholas
Graduate Certificate - CPTI
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Richard joined CDS in 1999 bringing a broad range of technical qualifications, attention to detail and creative mindset to the business, seeing him promptly promoted to senior management.
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​Richard’s initial automotive exposure saw him spending countless hours on-site at dealerships around the country, involved in everything from the national rollout of our early Dealership Advertising Software (which he authored), DMS integrations, Training & Support through to the implementation of Computer Network Solutions.
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The practical nature of this experience was invaluable in augmenting Richard's broad technical skillset with the required understanding of the business of Car Dealerships, Dealer Management Systems and most importantly, the data and technical solutions at the heart of the industry.
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​Today, Richard and his team oversees all CDS Technical Services, including but not limited to our Best-in-class Data & Software Applications, Cloud Infrastructure, Project Management and Technical Support to CDS staff, clients and third-party vendors alike.
Shohil Dholasaniya
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CPA BCom MPA MBus (Acc) Monash
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Joining CDS in 2005, Shohil quickly earned an exceptional reputation readily grasping the unique and complex financial and operational challenges that Dealership Financial Controllers face today.
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Shohil is an experienced project manager with a significant history in financial & management reporting projects from planning stages to handover, utilising his wealth of IT, professional accounting and analytical skills.
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By drawing on his experiences in various roles as a Dealership Financial Controller, Shohil works closely with stakeholders in gaining an understanding of the business to achieve desired reporting outcomes.
Often this involves delving beyond the reporting itself to coach and mentor Dealership management at all levels in the interpretation and meaning behind the metrics in our reporting tools.
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Shohil’s valued contribution to the building and support of bespoke data software solutions at CDS ensures our R&D arm never fails to produce market relevant products and services that clients know will be well supported once implemented.
Errol Fernandes
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B.Bus (Mktg.), Grad. Dip. (Bus. Mgt.) Dip. (Leadership & Change), Cert 4 TEA & LEA
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With over 20 years spent working throughout the Asia Pacific as a consultant, professional speaker and facilitator for OEMs and dealer groups; Errol’s track record in the automotive consulting and training space is well documented. Past assignments working in cars, trucks, earthmoving, agri-business, tyre and auto-related, have enabled Errol to gain valuable insights into the challenges that business owners and their staff face, in today’s highly competitive and complex re-seller networks.
This knowledge combined with his passion for helping people find “the one-percenters needed to progressively take their own game to the next level” have seen him in constant demand.
Errol’s addition to the team in 2022 signals a significant expansion in the constantly evolving suite of products and services offered by CDS. Clients will now be able to take advantage of onsite sales, service and parts health checks; not to mention performance coaching and mentoring of key staff, to assist them to address performance gaps in a timely manner.