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MERCEDES-BENZ Australia/Pacific has named the top-performing retailers for the prestige market leader’s passenger car and light-commercial vehicle divisions last year.

Mercedes-Benz Berwick in Melbourne’s outer-east was again a standout performer in the company’s passenger cars section, securing the 2016 Metropolitan Dealer of the Year award – its third in the space of four years – as well as a string of individual categories including Russel Palmer’s New Vehicle Sales Consultant of the Year (Metro) award.

And in a milestone for Mercedes-Benz Vans, Joanne Eisel from Daimler Trucks Sydney (Huntingwood) became the first female award winner for the commercial vehicles division, taking out the 2016 Metropolitan Van Sales Executive of the Year award after finishing runner-up the previous year.

Girl power: Joanne Eisel from Daimler Trucks Sydney (Huntingwood) is the 2016 Metropolitan Van Sales Executive of the Year – and Mercedes-Benz Van’s first-ever female award winner.

“It was terrific to see and well deserved,” said Mercedes-Benz Vans Australia and New Zealand managing director Diane Tarr. “We are constantly encouraging a diverse workplace which embraces individual strength and provides opportunity for all staff to achieve their full potential.”

Mercedes-Benz Berwick dealer principal Craig Howard accepted the top metro award, later thanking the dealership’s “loyal customers and dedicated team – without you, none of this would be possible”.

G Brothers, based at Mona Vale on Sydney’s northern beaches, was runner-up in the metro category – and winner of the Mercedes-Benz Financial DOTY award – and Mercedes-Benz Toowong in Brisbane was declared second runner-up.

Mercedes-Benz Townsville was named Provincial/Rural DOTY, ahead of Carlin and Gazzard in Mount Gambia, South Australia, and Wagga Motors in the NSW Riverina, while Mercedes-Benz North Shore in Auckland won the New Zealand DOTY award.



In addition to Russel Palmer’s sales consultant award, individual category winners for Mercedes-Benz Cars included Michael Warren from Neil Buckby Motors in Launceston (New Vehicle Sales Consultant of the Year – Provincial/Rural), and Hakan Yildiz from Sandersons Rushcutters Bay in Sydney (Pre-Owned Vehicle Sales Consultant of the Year – Metro).

Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz Vans named Perth’s Diesel Motors as its Metropolitan Vans DOTY, and Victoria’s Mercedes-Benz Mornington as Provincial/Rural Vans DOTY.

As well as Ms Eisel’s award as Metropolitan Van Sales Executive of the Year, individual award winners for the light-commercial division in the metro region included: Sales Manager of the Year (James van de Scheur, G Brothers), Parts Manager of the Year (Andrew Gordon, Mercedes-Benz Sydney), Service Manager of the Year (Chris Ferry, Mercedes-Benz Macarthur in Campbelltown, south-west of Sydney) and Service Adviser of the Year (Jason Gemzell, Westpoint Star, Perth).

Provincial/rural van individual awards were as follows: sales exec (Gavin Grant, Mercedes-Benz Sunshine Coast), sales manager (Michael Naumann, Mercedes-Benz Sunshine Coast), parts manager (Annibale Iannitti, Mercedes-Benz Mornington), service manager (Mark Seltin, Mercedes-Benz Mornington) and service adviser (David Knott, Mercedes-Benz Gold Coast).

By Terry Martin

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