Industry shakers move

Senior execs from GM Holden, Volvo Australia and Ford Australia are on the move.

Holden's Executive Director of Sales, Marketing and Aftersales, Ross McKenzie, has announced his retirement after 32 years with the company.

McKenzie (54) commenced his career with Holden in 1973, completed a General Motors Institute Fellowshipprogram in 1977, was appointed Victorian Zone Manager in 1988, General Marketing Managerin 1994 and General Sales Manager in 1996. He became Director Sales and Marketing in 1998and Executive Director Sales, Marketing and Aftersales in 2000. He has led Holden to overallmarket leadership in three of the past six years.

McKenzie will be replaced by Englishman, Alan Batey (42). Batey currently works for sister brand GM Daewoo and has also spent time with GM's UK arm, Vauxhall.

At Volvo, MD Volvo Car Australia, Steve Blyth is moving to Canada. The man behind Volvo's controversial "Bloody Volvo Driver" advertising campaign, Blyth has been promoted to President and CEO of Volvo Car Canada and Volvo Car Mexico. The promotion also elevates Blyth, 42, to the Volvo Car North America executive operating team for NAFTA (US, Canada and Mexico).

The appointment will relocate Blyth to Toronto, Canada, immediately where he will as of October 16 take responsibility for combined annual sales of approximately 15,000 vehicles.

Alan Desselss will replace Blyth as General Manager of Volvo Car Australia. Desselss worked as a dealer principal prior to his appointment as Volvo Car General Sales Manager in 2001.

At Ford, Mark Winslow has been appointed Vice President of Marketing & Sales. Formerly General Manager, Ford Customer Service Division (FCSD), for Ford Australia, Mark was previously responsible for Lincoln product marketing in the United States for a period of two years.

Bruce McDonald, the present Vice President of Marketing & Sales, will be taking on the new role of Vice President of FCSD.

"Our goal is to further develop our FCSD operations, providing improved parts and service support for our dealers and customers. Bruce's intimate knowledge of our dealers, his strong marketing capability and his proven leadership will strengthen FCSD's capabilities," said Ford boss, Tom Gorman.