Named to the SEMA News 35 Under 35 Roster

In its fourth year, the SEMA News 35 Under 35 feature identifies young leaders making a measurable impact across the automotive specialty-equipment industry. Candidates are nominated by industry peers and evaluated on leadership, entrepreneurship, and demonstrated results within their organisations. From a record number of nominations in 2015, 35 were selected.

Speedmaster CEO Jason Kencevski, 33, was named to the list.

Building a Global Operation from a Family Workshop

Kencevski took over Speedmaster's operations in 2005 and implemented a business model that made the company Australia's leading online reseller of automotive spare parts within a year. That same approach drove the opening of a US facility - now a 75,000-square-foot operation with more than 400 staff.

He credits his father Peter, an Australian engine builder who founded the company, for the inspiration to enter the aftermarket industry.

On Brand and E-Commerce

"If the brand is on point, it will speak volumes greater than any image. We want our customers to recognise a Speedmaster product on every social-media outlet or sales channel there is through our consistent tactics." - Jason Kencevski

Kencevski pointed to the automotive industry's trajectory in e-commerce as validation of Speedmaster's early digital investment. At the time of the feature, Cyber Monday automotive parts and accessory sales had reached $6.5 billion - a 24 percent increase from 2013.

"The automotive industry has been a slow bloomer in the e-commerce environment, yet it classes year on year as one of the strongest categories in sales and growth. I'm not stating that you should run out and sell online but expressing the importance of delivering a product or service that will facilitate interaction in this environment." - Jason Kencevski