McEniry steps down

There's change at the top again for Mitsubishi Australia. Robert McEniry, President and CEO of the company since late 2005, has resigned to "pursue other business interests".

McEniry was the bloke who reluctantly oversaw the winding down of Mitsubishi's local manufacturing operation. The sensitivity with which that challenging task was handled won him a lot of kudos from industry watchers.

"I believe the company and the brand are in great shape, with a very solid foundation for future growth," McEniry was quoted as saying in a press release.

"The company has a strong balance sheet to support growth, has returned to profitable operations over the last eighteen months following transition to the full import model, and, importantly, is well positioned for sustained profitability into the future. Despite some enormous challenges and very difficult times, especially around the decision to close the Adelaide plant in 2008, I have been honoured to lead the MMAL team during this time.

"After four and a half years at the helm, I now feel it's the right time to move on to a new challenge.

"I would like to pay tribute to our dealers and all the MMAL team of employees who have played an important and integral role in building MMAL's renewed market momentum.

"The Company will be in the hands of a CEO and senior executive team who have worked closely with me in successfully transitioning the business model and setting the longer term strategy."

That CEO will be Masahiko Takahashi. Currently Vice President of Corporate Strategy, Takahashi has worked with the local branch since 2005 and was General Manager for Australia and New Zealand within the parent company Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC), so he has some experience and first-hand knowledge of the local market. According to his bio, Takahashi has 27 years' experience with MMC in total and has worked "in Japan, the Middle East and Latin America, overseeing marketing, distribution and sales programs".

"I have come to appreciate the uniqueness of the Australian market over the last four years, and I see significant opportunity for further growth and success of the Mitsubishi Motors operation in Australia, building on the sound base established by Mr McEniry," Takahashi declared in the same press release.

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