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CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS
JUNE 2016
28
C
raig Uren, Chief Operating Officer of
Isuzu Truck South Africa, announced
the appointment of Hiroaki Sugawara
as Chief Executive Officer of the South
African operations. He is replacing Hiroshi
Nishizaka, who will be relocating to
Australia, on a fixed term, after numerous
years of dedicated service in South Africa.
During his tenure, 4 550 units were sold in
2015 and a corresponding 14, 9% overall
market share ensured that Isuzu Trucks
ended as the number one supplier for the
third year in a row.
“I am glad to join Isuzu Truck South Africa,
and to continue the success path instituted
by my predecessor. Beyond its renowned
expertise among global customers, Isuzu
Trucks has a solid reputation in South
Africa, which puts it in a good position to
meet its ambitious growth strategy in an
ever-challenging economic environment,”
said Sugawara.
Sugawara started his career in the auto-
motive sector in 1980 as an electrical en-
gineer, when he was involved in planning
the new automated chassis assembly and
the new cab assembly line for the N-series
and increasing production capacity in the
Thai and Malaysia markets, to name a few.
From 2002 until 2012, Sugawara was the
General Manager and Group Leader of the
Service Marketing Department in Japan.
He was responsible for the foundation
of the ‘World Service Skill’ contest in
ISUZU (I-1 GP), starting the ‘World Service
Conference’ as well as cross-functional
activity of service, establishing new service
skill criteria, developing the geographical
marketing method and increasing the
aftersales business in the domestic market.
He was promoted to general manager of
the Parts Planning Department in 2012.
During his two-year term he increased the
parts fill rate with Kaizen activity. He ac-
cepted the position of general manager for
the sales promotion department in 2014
and soon organised the ‘Economy & Safety
Seminar’ as well as the ‘New Products Pro-
motion’. He was also involved in planning
the CV sales-expanding project.
In 2014, he furthered his career to general
manager for the International Sales
Department, where he was in charge of
West and South Asia and one South Pacific
area. He developed new markets in Iran
and Uzbekistan and improved the business
amount.
Sugawara graduated from the Akita Tech-
nical College and has been with Isuzu Co.
for 35 years.
Craig Uren said: “We are pleased to
welcome Hiroaki Sugawara to our team.
We predict that he will make a meaningful
contribution to Isuzu Truck South Africa by
utilising his engineering, marketing and
management expertise in the automotive
and transport sectors.”
b
NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
for Isuzu Truck South Africa
Hiroaki Sugawara, Chief
Executive Officer of South African
operations.