By CASEY NEILL
GERRY Ryan has left the building – Jayco’s Dandenong factory, that is.
He’s retired as CEO of Australia’s largest RV manufacturer, which he founded more than 40 years ago.
Mr Ryan told the Journal he stepped down about a month ago and that Carl Bizon from Keysborough’s TriMas Corporation had taken the reins.
His comments came during a discussion about the Victorian Manufacturing Showcase, held at Chisholm in Dandenong on 27 October.
“I’m sure that it will be there next year. I don’t know that if they’ll invite me back again,” he said.
“I might be on the shelf next year – I might be yesterday’s hero!”
Mr Bizon told the Journal Mr Ryan remained the Jayco board chairman.
“Gerry ultimately came to the view that he needed to withdraw from the day-to-day operations of Jayco,” he said.
“He approached an external recruitment firm and they found me.”
Mr Bizon said he was honoured to work for Mr Ryan.
“He’s an extraordinary entrepreneur and a leader,” he said.
“It was very humbling for him to choose me to take on the role.”
He had to walk away from “an amazing job” at TriMas.
“The chance to work for Gerry was something I found pretty compelling,” he said.
Mr Bizon started his working life in the steel industry in Newcastle in 1980.
“Through various manufacturing jobs in the steel industry and associated industrial products and industrial markets I’ve ended up here,” he said.
Mr Bizon was in June included on the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Honour Roll for helping to make TriMas Australia’s largest towing system manufacturer.
“In the seven years that I’ve been here we’ve tripled the size of the company. It’s been a pretty good ride,” he said.
It was Mr Ryan who presented him with the award.
“That was mid-process so that was kind of funny,” he said.
“It was quite a humbling moment when Gerry presented me with my award.”
Mr Bizon said he was finding his feet with the 1200-plus Jayco staff.
“Everyone’s been very welcoming,” he said.
“The dedication and commitment of the team to the business and to Gerry is something to be treasured.”
Mr Bizon said he was working on plans to develop the business and its people.
“I’m in no hurry. The company in fundamentally sound – there’s nothing broken,” he said.
“From where I sit it’s just really about bringing contemporary manufacturing techniques and philosophies to a very well-established business.
“I understand the product very well. I’ve been a Jayco owner for 14-odd years. It’s helped me to get up to speed very quickly.”
