MOTORING NEWS - Isuzu Motors South Africa has announced a number of key appointments in support of the purchase of the Isuzu related assets from General Motors South Africa (GM). The purchase is effective January 2018 and subject to various regulatory approvals.
Haruyasu Tanishige, in addition to his current role of senior executive officer for the sales division of Isuzu Motors in Japan, will be appointed chairman of Isuzu Motors South Africa. He will continue to be based in Tokyo at Isuzu's headquarters.
With immediate effect Michael Sacke, currently chief financial officer (CFO) for GM South Africa, will be appointed as chief operations officer and CFO to assume responsibility for the transition of GM South Africa's operations to Isuzu Motors. He will also be responsible for the integration of the Isuzu truck and light commercial businesses. Following this he will assume the role of chief executive officer and managing director of Isuzu Motors South Africa. Sacke previously held a number of positions within the finance department of GM, including positions at the company's headquarters in Detroit from 2006 until 2008. He began his automotive industry career in 1997 at Delta Motor Corporation. He has a BCom degree from the University of Port Elizabeth and is a chartered accountant.
Other key appointments are that of the current Isuzu Trucks South Africa managing director, Hiroaki Sugawara, to the position of executive vice president of strategy and business planning; the current Isuzu Trucks South Africa chief operations officer, Craig Uren, to executive officer for sales, service and marketing; and, from Isuzu Motors Japan, Mitsuteru Yageta will be appointed as group CFO.
"We are very excited about the appointment of Michael Sacke as he has had a long association with Isuzu Motors, including serving as board member of Isuzu Trucks South Africa for the past nine years," said Tanishige. "He will play a key role in ensuring the successful transition of the South African operations to the new Isuzu Motors South Africa business."
Tanishige said that South Africa was the first market outside of Japan where Isuzu had acquired a 100% ownership of manufacturing and distribution operations.
"We view South Africa as a key market for future growth and will be looking to maximise the benefits of integrating our light commercial and truck businesses together." The new company would only be fully operational from January 2018, but it saw opportunities to strengthen and grow its base in South Africa. "Our immediate priorities will be to ensure the successful establishment of the company, while strengthening our support to customers," said Tanishige.
Isuzu vehicles have had a presence in South Africa since assembly began more than
44 years ago. Sales of the Isuzu KB bakkie have increased by 7,6% in the year to July 2017 over the same period last year. For the past four years, Isuzu has occupied the number one position in the medium- and heavy-duty commercial truck segment of the South African market.
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