John Chapman is perhaps better known as "Old Man Emu", after the Old Man Emu suspension brand he founded in his native Australia in 1976.

The name Old Man Emu is a nod to the Australian emu, and the bird's ability to maintain great stability when moving over uneven terrain at high speeds, a quality Chapman emulated in his suspension products.

Chapman holds a Law degree from Sydney University.

He sold the Old Man Emu suspension brand to ARB in 1988. ARB continues to develop and test the products in Australia's harsh 4WD environments, offering suspension solutions for over 200 popular 4WD vehicles.