Market leader Isuzu has been adding new executives almost as fast as it has been selling trucks in recent times and the company has announced yet another new key executive this week with the appointment of Craig White as head of sales.
White was formerly IAL’s national dealer sales manager, a position he has held since September 2020, and steps into the new role after Isuzu marked its 34th consecutive year of truck sales leadership in Australia.
White has been with Isuzu since 2017 and comes to the new role with a range of experience across the automotive sector.
White will be responsible for developing and managing ‘all aspects of the sales functions, including truck and the brand’s increasingly successful off-highway engines, under the Isuzu Power Solutions banner’.
Isuzu says he will have oversight of national and major fleet, including government, and sales through the Isuzu dealer network, and that his focus will be on ‘further developing sales opportunities through customer demand across a wide range of industries’.
“We’re thrilled for both IAL and Craig with this announcement,” director and chief operating officer Andrew Harbison said.
“The past 12 months has seen incredible sales growth at Isuzu and Craig’s work in the National Dealer Sales Manager position has been a major role in our overall success.
“Craig’s background in both passenger and commercial automotive sales brings a wealth of broader industry knowledge and his understanding of the brand, our customers and our professional dealer network really cemented this crucial appointment,” he said.
Last year Isuzu sold a record 13,360 units to smash the company’s previous best sales result of 2021 by 31 per cent.
This year has already commenced on a positive note with 1,984 Isuzu trucks sold in January/February representing a 42.4 per cent increase on the same period in 2022.
Craig White’s appointment follows a realignment of IAL’s structure to build efficiencies into an expanding and constantly evolving business model.
The broader organisational restructure included the amalgamation of key divisions into a new Sales and aftersales department, headed by Ben Lasry, and the strengthening of IAL’s dealer network with the appointment of experienced automotive industry executive Ella Letiagina to the role of head of network development.
“I’m really excited for the road ahead and look forward to implementing the strategies of the executive team,” White said.
“We have seen intensive growth in the truck and power solutions market since the outset of the pandemic. This has led Isuzu to double-down on its processes to continue to meet customer needs.
“From a tradie upgrading from a ute to a Traypack, to some of the country’s largest fleets running heavy-duty product, there is an Isuzu truck for everyone.
“This also extends to our Isuzu Power Solutions products, which was recently extended to include a range of enclosed generator sets, providing reliable remote power for all manner of applications,” White said.
“Our truck product offering extends to our fantastic warranty and roadside assistance programs, our service agreement offerings, our huge range of genuine parts and of course our pioneering Isuzu Care customer support program.”
White said he was looking forward to leading the charge to get into the field and work with both customers and dealers to meet demand.
“One of my immediate priorities will be getting out in the field to meet with our customers and dealers face-to-face across the country,” he said.
“We can’t sit back. It’s about understanding both the immediate and long-term needs of our stakeholders be they fleet customers or our dealer partners.”
White said he was confident Isuzu has the best network and product line-up to meet the growing demand of Australian businesses across the market.
“The market has grown significantly over the past couple of years and our product range, in particular the Ready-to-Work offering, is right in the sweet spot of where that demand lies,” he said.
“We are working on ensuring having the right mix and amount of product on our shores to ensure lead times and support of our customers is in the very best position it can be.
“This again comes down to working with our dealer network and together delivering the right vehicle for the job at hand.”
