Mitsubishi sales chief departs
BY TERRY MARTIN | 5th Nov 2012
A spokesperson said Mr Casey, who had been the top sales executive at MMAL since March 2009, was now looking forward to pursuing “personal and other business interests”.
The company has also confirmed Mr Casey will not be replaced “as part of our corporate restructuring with a greater focus on regional development”.
GoAuto has learnt that area managers will now report directly to MMAL president and CEO Mutsuhiro Oshikiri, who officially took the reins from Genichiro Nishina in April.
However, Mitsubishi has advised that “although the VP role is not being replaced, we do have several head office national sales functions, so although the regions will now report directly to Oshikiri there is still a head office sales department”.
As we reported in August, Mr Oshikiri has targeted an increase in MMAL’s market share from 6.0 per cent to 8.0 per cent, and part of the strategy was to shift more sales and marketing responsibility from its headquarters in Adelaide to other state centres.
At the time, Mr Oshikiri foreshadowed a big shake-up of Mitsubishi’s Australian subsidiary, declaring: “We have to change the company or we will not survive.”He also made it clear to GoAuto at last month’s Sydney motor show that he was determined to achieve the goals set down by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation president Osamu Masuko, who told us he believed Australia could generate 100,000 sales a year.
Despite a strong new-vehicle market this year, VFACTS figures released today show that Mitsubishi sales are down 2.8 per cent to the end of October, with 49,778 new registrations.
Its market share is currently 5.4 per cent, down from 6.1 per cent a year ago.
Mr Casey has been in the top sales job at MMAL – and a member of the senior management committee – since 2009.
Over the years he has held a number of senior positions at the company spanning sales, finance, supply procurement and product planning.
In a statement released on Friday, the company said: “MMAL wishes Mr Casey and his family all the very best for the future as he pursues other business interests.”
