VOLVO BUS AUSTRALIA stalwart and overall local bus industry veteran Ray Andrich has celebrated his 30-year milestone with the Swedish brand, the company has announced.
Andrich joined Volvo Bus in February, 1992, in NSW and he immediately became a valued member of the team, playing an integral role in forming key long-term relationships with customers and partners across the bus and coach industry, the company explains.
Officially joining the team as a regional sales manager, in this role Andrich found his niche and passion and proudly maintained it over the years, VBA explains.
Prior to this, Andrich began working for Suttons Volvo in July, 1984, which was a Volvo Bus dealership for NSW at the time.
Before starting his three-decade journey with Volvo, Andrich originally began his career as an electrician, but had a long-held love of buses even before entering the industry, spending his weekends driving buses around Sydney with his friend, Volvo confirms.
Unsurprisingly, he has had many memorable experiences throughout his years in the industry, and still remembers the first sale he ever made with Suttons Volvo in July, 1984 – having sold a Volvo B6 to customer Lyall Lennox in Kyogle, NSW – a delivery he says he will never forget.
BUS CONFERENCES
One of the many highlights Andrich adds about working with the Volvo Group is the bus conferences.
“Over the years, the bus conferences start to feel like a family reunion,” Andrich explained.
“You get to see the younger people in the beginning and then see them grow up, have children and shift through life.
“Every year it feels more like a family get-together than a business gathering. Probably like you wouldn’t get in another industry.
“Especially with many of the family run businesses, you get to see the different generations moving up in the family business,” he explained.
It is the social side of the industry along with the culture at Volvo Bus that has made Ray’s job so rewarding over the years, he says.
According to Andrich, it is the passion, drive and teamwork demonstrated within the people at Volvo Bus that has made work so enjoyable, adding that Volvo has been extremely supportive over the years.
“Ray’s experience, skills, dedication and passion for the bus and coach industry makes him such a valuable asset to the Volvo Bus Australia team,” said Mitch Peden, general manager Volvo Bus Australia.
“Thirty years in the industry is a massive milestone and we are proud to have Ray on the team continuing to service and support our customers and partners across NSW,” Peden stated.
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Photography: courtesy Volvo Bus Australia