Time’s up: Former Renault Australia managing director Justin Hocevar oversaw a 500 per cent sales increase since he joined the company in 2010, but the good times ended with a 3.6 per cent slump in 2016 followed by this year’s slow 1.9 per cent recovery.

RENAULT is preparing to appoint a new managing director for its Australian subsidiary following the sudden departure today of Justin Hocevar, who has led the French brand’s local operation for the past seven years.

Mr Hocevar was due to accompany Australian media this week to an event in Paris and then on to Frankfurt motor show, however his unexpected absence was accompanied by the news he had left the company – just 11 days after the head of alliance partner Nissan in Australia, Richard Emery, left in similar shock circumstances.

Renault Australia corporate communications manager Mel Cross told GoAuto in Paris that Mr Hocevar’s replacement will be the subject of a future announcement, but was unable to say when this would occur.

It appears Renault rather than Mr Hocevar made the decision, as Ms Cross simply described the move as “part of management change”.

GoAuto understands Mr Hocevar’s successor will come from within Renault’s Asia-Pacific region rather than from outside the company.

Until then, Renault Asia-Pacific vice-president of marketing and sales Guillaume Sicard will assume responsibility for Australia.

The Hocevar announcement follows the equally sudden departure of Nissan Australia managing director and CEO Richard Emery on August 31, pointing to a refresh of Australian top management instigated by Renault-Nissan Alliance headquarters in Amsterdam.

Nissan Australia would not comment today on Mr Hocevar’s departure, and whether it was linked to the same review process that saw Mr Emery leave after three-and-a-half years in the top job.

However, Ms Cross said she did not believe Mr Hocevar’s departure was related to that of Mr Emery.

As GoAuto has reported, Nissan Motor Corporation’s Asia and Oceania region chief Yutaka Sanada last week confirmed that Mr Emery’s replacement by former Infiniti Canada managing director Stephen Lester was related to poor sales performance, falling from almost 80,000 units in 2013 and stagnating at the 66,000 mark for three years before plummeting 14.1 per cent year-to-date.

Meanwhile, Renault Australia’s run of good fortune – represented by a sales increase of around 500 per cent since Mr Hocevar joined – ran out in 2016 when volume slumped 3.6 per cent to 11,109 units, only recovering to the tune of 1.9 per cent by the end of August this year.

Renault sources have told GoAuto that a significant double-digit sales increase had been forecast this year.

In a statement, Mr Sicard credited Mr Hocevar with developing the Renault brand in Australia through its successful transition from independent importer to factory-backed subsidiary and thanked him for leaving a “solid base” from which the brand could “further develop and enter a new era in Australia”.

“Justin has helped build Renault’s Australian market operations since 2010, culminating in local annual sales growth beyond the 11,000-unit mark, having successfully transitioned Renault’s Australian business from being an importer to a fully fledged subsidiary of the Renault group,” he said.

“Justin has steadily built Renault’s place in the Australian new-car market and has contributed in developing not only the public’s awareness of our brand, across our portfolio of passenger, commercial and Renault Sport products, but also our strong and committed network of dealers.

“The Renault team is thankful for his contribution to our brand and business development.”

In parallel with his Renault role, Mr Hocevar has served as Victorian state council member for the French-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry since 2012.

Before Renault, Mr Hocevar spent 12 years at BMW Group Australia, his final position being national manager for the Mini brand, which he departed in April 2010.

He also variously worked as national sales manager, national parts and accessories manager and area manager at BMW Motorrad.

Before BMW, Mr Hocevar was an account executive with Sydney-based advertising firm Marshall Cutting. He has also been a director of Performance Canoes and Kayaks since 2006.

By Haitham Razagui and Terry Martin