New MDs take charge

As 2014 starts drawing to a close, it would seem that original equipment manufacturers are restructuring their upper management levels left, right and centre. Two major have recently appointed new managing directors.

Eamonn Parker has been appointed MD of Iveco South Africa – replacing Robert (Bob) Lowden, who returned to the United Kingdom (UK) as the new general manager. Parker has worked for Iveco in the UK, Italy and South Africa since joining the company as a graduate in 1999.

Prior to his most recent role as head of sales for Iveco in southern Africa, he was marketing manager for Africa and Middle East, when he was based at the head quarters in Turin, Italy.

Mario Gasparri, vice president of CNH South Africa, explains: “This organisational change gives Iveco a high level of continuity and stability for the foreseeable future, and ensures that the group’s challenging expansion plans for the southern Africa region are executed in these key markets.”

Volvo Group Southern Africa has also announced the appointment of a new MD – with Christian Coolsaet, a Belgian national, looking after the Volvo Trucks and Renault Trucks brands in the region. He was previously the Volvo Group’s director of commercial trucks in central Europe.

Coolsaet is no stranger to Africa as he was the area director for the Volvo Bus Corporation locally, and played a pivotal role in the supply of buses for a significant tender to Metrobus Johannesburg in 1999.

“We are very confident in Coolsaet’s abilities and experience and believe he will be a valuable asset to the local business,” says Torbjörn Christensson, president of the Volvo Group SA. “With his extensive experience within the group, in addition to his local South African knowledge, I believe our customers will greatly benefit from his appointment.”

Coolsaet adds: “I am very excited to return to South Africa once again, and to serve the staff and customers of the region to the best of my abilities. The country and the region are rich with potential, quality people and resources. The market certainly has a wonderful future ahead of it. I am truly looking forward to be part of the dynamic team in South Africa.”