New chief engineer for Isuzu Australia

HIGHLY experienced commercial vehicle engineer Simon Humphries has returned to Isuzu Australia Limited as chief engineer (product strategy), succeeding Colin White who has retired after nine years with the company.

Mr Humphries previously worked for Isuzu-General Motors (as it was then known) from 1998 to 2009, starting as a truck sales engineer before rising to manager of product planning and engineering support – a role that put him in charge of all Australian Isuzu truck model specifications, certification, ADR approvals, development and testing, and dealer and customer technical support.

Over the past three years, Mr Humphries has been chief technical officer with the Truck Industry Council, Australia’s peak truck manufacturer and major component supplier representative group.

He had a two-year stint as business manager (east coast) for Wesfarmers’ Evol LNG from early 2009 to late 2010, while earlier in his career Mr Humphries spent two decades with the RAAF, holding a variety of engineering positions and later managing the RAAF’s fleet of commercial vehicles.

He also served for nine years (2001-2010) as an executive member, including vice-president, of the Australian Road Transport Suppliers Association, the industry body which is considered the technical resource for the road transport industry.

IAL director and chief operating officer Phil Taylor said he was confident Mr Humphries would make a “strong contribution” to the company.

“Simon is highly regarded in the commercial vehicle industry and will strengthen our engineering department,” Mr Taylor said.

“His two recent roles have expanded his knowledge base and industry contacts, and he returns to IAL able to offer our company more than ever before.” Mr Humphries said he was looking forward to the new challenge, noting that in recent years the company had restructured its sales department, while the engineering team had also grown in size.