With the real chance that they will break through the 10000 truck barrier for the first time this year there’s been a shakeup in the top level of management at Isuzu Australia.
Long time chief operating officer and director Phil Taylor has been named in the role of director and chief executive officer assuming that responsibility from the company’s current managing director, Hiroko Yaguchi.
It’s a significant move in that traditionally the company’s top Japanese executive normally manages both tasks while the senior local management handles COO role.
The move is testament to the esteem Phil Taylor is held in by the parent company in Japan given he has driven the organisation to the possible record annual sales and the holy grail of 10000 trucks in a year.
Replacing Mr Taylor as COO will be current IAL director of sales and marketing, Andrew Harbison, with all of the changes becoming effective immediately.
Isuzu says Yaguchi san has considerable and broad Isuzu expertise and has led IAL since June 1st, 2017, already demonstrating a significant contribution to the organisation’s future direction and strategic positioning.
Phil Taylor has been an integral part of the IAL team for more than 27 years, starting out in Brisbane before moving to the Melbourne Head Office team 18 years ago.
Isuzu says Taylor’s new role will collaborate closely with all stakeholders, focusing on ensuring IAL continues implementing appropriate business strategies that take advantage of the latest technologies entering the Australian truck market.
The statement from IAL says Andrew Harbison’s promotion to director and COO reflects a need to maintain the company’s focus on daily operations.
It goes on to say that he will apply the knowledge gained from 13 years with IAL to oversee multiple areas of the business, including sales and marketing, product planning and engineering, IT, and the crucial area of after-sales.
“The 2018 Australian Truck market is showing levels of strength and growth unseen since the record market numbers set in 2007,” said Yaguchi san.
“At the same time, the market is being flooded with an unprecedented level of new technologies, including enhanced safety features, electric and autonomous vehicles to name a few,” she added
“Going forward, IAL must maintain its market strength to take advantage of these seismic shifts,” she said.
The statement says refinements at the director level represent IAL’s bold steps towards meeting the challenges of the new trucking climate.
Isuzu earned its position as Australia’s number one truck for 29 consecutive years through adapting to market changes and enacting relevant, market-leading strategies.
This has enabled IAL to capitalise on the positive customer reaction to reliable trucks for real-world applications.
The new executive developments maintain this focus as the company approaches its third full decade at the top.
“Isuzu’s success in Australia is the product of balancing an understanding of current issues with an eye on future trends,” said Yaguchi san.
“Australia’s trucking landscape faces disruption and change from many different angles, and IAL is responding with a number of new initiatives and an organisational structure that targets our key areas of focus,” she added.
“Phil, Andrew and myself are excited to meet these challenges and advance to even greater triumphs that drive our business forwards,” Yaguchi san concluded.
