Volvo has announced a major management change with Gary Bone being moved from his role as vice president of Mack Australia to vice president of Volvo Trucks Australia, following the current Volvo vice president, Tony O’Connell’s move to become managing director of Volvo Trucks Malaysia.
The announcement marks another chapter in Gary Bone’s return to the Volvo Group where he was the vice president of both Mack from 2005 to 2008 and at Volvo Trucks from 2009 to 2013, before leaving to head up Chesterfield Australia for five years.
Tony O’Connell’s move to Malaysia will see him take the role that was until recently held by another Australian in Mitch Peden, who was vice president of Volvo Trucks Australia before taking the up the MD position in Malaysia. Mitch Peden has returned from Malaysia and is now general manager of the Volvo Bus division.
The move to vice president of Volvo Trucks Australia for Gary Bone becomes effective immediately while Martin Merrick will be the acting vice president of Mack until the position is filled.
“In a rapidly changing transport environment I am delighted to see Gary back at the helm of the Volvo Trucks brand,” said Volvo Group Australia president and CEO, Martin Merrick.
“We have just launched an amazing new line up of Volvo Trucks onto the Australian market, and Garywill be well placed to steer the Volvo brand into a future that will see significant advancement in the nextdecade,” Merrick added.
Gary Bone has logged 17 years’ with Mack and Volvo Group Australia, initially starting out in Mack retailsales, moving through a number of other roles, including two years in the USA with the Mack brand,before assuming the vice presidency positions with Mack and Volvo.
“I feel privileged to be climbing into the driver’s seat of the Volvo brand at this point in its history,” saidBone.
“Our best range ever is hitting the road this year, our electrification journey has begun and we now have some of the safest, smartest, most connected heavy vehicles on the Australian market with anaftermarket offering second to none,” he added.
“Our strength as Volvo Group Australia is the ability to find the right transport solution for our customers,from medium duty urban distribution to long haul cab-over and conventional.”
“Our brands work together to make this happen and our people make the difference,” continued Bone.
“There’s always a special place for the Mack brand in my heart and I look forward to working closelywith my successor at Mack to continue to drive innovation and success in the Australian transportindustry.”
