Changing of the guard at Isuzu

There has been a generational change at the top of Isuzu Australia Limited (IAL), with Andrew Harbison signing on as the brand's Director and Chief Operating Officer, following the retirement of former chief, Phil Taylor.

With 13 years at IAL already behind him, Mr Harbison is well placed to build on the firm's 30 years of market dominance, and he recently outlined his plans to do exactly that.

"Covering-off from an internal, human resources perspective, it's a pleasure to say that IAL is extremely well-placed to continue delivering industry-best road transport solutions to Australian businesses," he said.

"This is what we do, and we'll continue to do so to a very high standard.

"We also have some of the best and most experienced people working with us at IAL and, on that note, I'm delighted to announce that our current Company Secretary and Business Planning Manager, Mr Paul Evans, will be elevated to the role of Director and Chief of Corporate Services.

"Over the last two decades, Paul has played a key role in helping shape and deliver the country's most professional truck dealer network. This has been critical to our long-term success and Paul's rise within our organisation is definitely well-earned."

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From March 1, the Isuzu Australia Limited board of directors will comprise Managing Director Ms Hiroko Yaguchi, Director & Chief Operating Officer Andrew Harbison, Director of Administration & Chief Financial Officer Hiroaki Kudo, Director & Chief of Corporate Services Paul Evans, and Director & Isuzu Motors Limited representative Yasuyuki Niijima.

Mr Harbison said that maintaining and strengthening its strong customer relationships would be critical to the brand's future success in a rapidly evolving industry.

"We've built our success on the quality of our customer relationships," he said.

"Isuzu is known for providing the best mix of product, most appropriate to the needs of Australian road transport operators, and then comprehensively supporting that product and our customers.

"IAL will continue to deliver on the fundamentals of what made us so strong and, with our partners, Australia's largest and most professional truck dealer network, we'll continue meeting the changing needs of our customers.

"At the heart, the role of transport will remain critical to all aspects of our daily lives and Isuzu is there to deliver."

Mr Harbison went on to identify several key areas that will contribute to the brand's future growth.

"The next 30 years will present a starkly different operating environment to the last 30 years," he said.

"As we embrace and respond to the rapid pace of business and technological change, we will leverage our experience and knowledge to develop the transport solutions for the future.

"There's certainly no surprises with some of our objectives over the coming years as we work to continue to grow and execute our market leadership strategies, namely, to sell more trucks, more parts, and more industrial engines.

"As for the increasing impact of new technologies, Isuzu is well positioned here also.

"A critical factor in the technology approach is data. The more informed we are, the better we can respond to develop the programs and services our customers need. Data drives business. It underpins everything.

"As the long-term market leader with a deep understanding of our customers' businesses, we are in a privileged position to be able to develop high-value insights and act on these to benefit Isuzu Truck owners and operators."

Isuzu customer relationship management will continue to play a pivotal role, Mr Harbison said.

"I have personally been working on our CRM strategy for many years now and firmly believe we do it better than any of our competitors.

"We must continue to question and test our understanding of what our customers and the industry needs and keep challenging ourselves to better our offer. This has got us to 30 years of market leadership and will bolster our performance into the future.

"Thirty years of market leadership is a gigantic achievement, and one that we've recognised and celebrated. Now it's time to turn our gaze forward. What matters is what comes next.

"It is of greater importance now to continue to challenge the status quo and to test those proven fundamentals against what we know is coming.

"To achieve continued success, we need to keep challenging ourselves."