Netstar Australia is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Bartsch as the new Managing Director. With a distinguished career spanning over four decades in the automotive industry, Michael brings a wealth of experience and a robust network across OEMs, major retail groups, fleet operators, and financial institutions, which are critical to Netstar’s ongoing growth and innovation.
Michael Bartsch retired from Volkswagen Group in June 2022 after a six-year assignment as Managing Director for Volkswagen Group Australia. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in navigating re-building, and re-positioning the Volkswagen brand. His leadership extended to growing and anchoring SKODA sales, launching the Barcelona-based Cupra marque, and integrating Audi into the Australian VW Group legal entity. Additionally, Michael served as Deputy Chair of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, where he successfully led efforts to overhaul vehicle emissions standards governance and electric vehicle policy at both State and National levels.
Prior to his time with Volkswagen, Michael served as Vice-President of Infiniti Americas (Nissan) and held the position of Executive Vice-President and COO of Porsche Cars North America for over a decade. His extensive experience includes two terms as Managing Director of Porsche Cars Canada and ten years as Director of Sales and Marketing for Porsche Cars Australia.
Grant Fraser, Netstar’s Group Managing Director, expressed his enthusiasm for the new appointment: “We are thrilled to welcome Michael Bartsch to the Netstar family. His extensive industry experience and proven leadership in both the local and international automotive markets make him an invaluable addition to our team. Michael’s ability to drive process improvement and his commitment to leading people aligns perfectly with our strategic goals. We are confident that under his leadership, Netstar Australia will continue to achieve remarkable growth and success.”
Michael Bartsch’s appointment marks a significant milestone for Netstar Australia as the company continues to expand its footprint and enhance its service offerings. Michael’s track record of driving brand transformation, fostering industry relationships, and advocating for progressive automotive policies underscores his capability to lead Netstar into a new era of innovation and excellence.