Mercedes names its top dealers

PETER Warren Automotive of Warwick Farm, NSW, was last week named the Mercedes-Benz Cars 2009 Metropolitan Dealer of the Year, and Neil Buckby Motors from Launceston, Tasmania, the 2009 Provincial/Rural Dealer of the Year for the German luxury brand in Australia.

At a ceremony in Melbourne last Thursday, the managing director of the Mercedes Car Group for Australia/Pacific, Horst von Sanden, and general manager of sales Sam Curtis, congratulated the award winners, which as well as Dealers of the Year includes service and parts, finance and ‘Sales Star Guild’ categories.

“We congratulate them all on their fantastic efforts in a year that required thinking outside the square and pushing of the boundaries in order to meet the challenges on 2009,” Mr von Sanden said. “Well done to them all.” Among the 2009 Star Guild winners were New Car Sales Manager of the Year, Sid Saliba (Peter Warren Automotive), Pre-Owned Sales Manager of the Year, Mark Bartlett (Barloworld Motor, Vic), and Rookie of the Year, Robert O’Connor (Tynan Motors, NSW).

Neil Buckby Motors dealer principal Crichton Lewis receives the Provincial/Rural Dealer of the Year award from Mercedes' Horst von Sanden.

The 2009 Metropolitan Parts Manager of the Year was named as Victor Kolev (Silver Star Motors, Vic), while his provincial and rural counterparts were, respectively, Damien Pengilly (Garry Crick Prestige, Qld) and Daryl Gamack (Andrew Miedecke Motors, NSW).

The Metropolitan Service Manager of the Year award went to Gavin Cole (Westpoint Star, WA), while the top provincial service manager was Steve Newman (New Star Classic, Qld) and the top rural service manager was Clint Bairstow (Coastal Automotive Centre, WA).

Long-service awards were also presented to the following dealers: G Brothers, NSW (40 years), McIntosh of Mosman, NSW (40 years), Carmichael Motors, Qld (25 years), Illawarra Star, NSW (20 years) and Performance Automobiles, Tasmania (20 years).

Awards were also presented for new-car and pre-owned teams, corporate sales, service advisers and financial services.