PCV sheds marketing boss

Penske Commercial Vehicles has moved a significant portion of its marketing function across to its new sister firm MTU Detroit Diesel Australia, the move resulting in the retrenchment of former PCV General Manager Marketing, Cris Gillespie.

PCV's Managing Director, Paul Glavac, told trucksales.com.au the role would now be handled by MTU-DDA.

"Kim Ruddock [Marketing Manager] at MTU-DDA is taking a combined responsibility," he said.

"As you know, Penske Automotive group purchased MTU-DDA some months back, so we're doing some very slight restructures where we see some synergies, and that involved Cris's position becoming redundant."

When asked if the purchase of MTU-DDA would lead to further redundancies, Mr Glavac gave trucksales.com.au an emphatic, "No".

Mr Gillespie said the retrenchment came "out of the blue" last Friday (January 30).

"They've got their own ideas of what they want to do and obviously I wasn't a part of those," he said.

"There's no bad blood by any stretch; I wish them all the best and I look forward to whatever new opportunities might come up."

It's been a tough first full calendar year for Penske Commercial Vehicles, which in August 2013 took over from Transpacific Industries Group as the importer and distributor for Western Star, MAN and Dennis Eagle in Australia and New Zealand.

According to TIC T-Mark data, Western Star, MAN and Dennis Eagle registered sales contractions of 30.7%, 29.7% and 39.3% respectively in 2014.

Then, in September 2014, Penske Automotive Group announced its acquisition of MTU Detroit Diesel Australia – a deal which was finalised late last year.

Speaking via a teleconference from the US last September, company owner Roger Penske said the purchase would unlock new efficiencies in its Australian operations.

"As we considered opportunities to grow and enhance our business in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, coupling engine and power systems with our existing Western Star, MAN Truck and Bus and Dennis Eagle truck distribution business provided an opportunity to scale our existing operations in an efficient manner," he said at the time.