Big guns: Peter Fadeyev is back working for his former boss Richard Emery, with both ex-Nissan executives now in key positions at specialist automotive industry supplier MSR.

JUST a week after former Nissan Australia CEO Richard Emery took the reins as managing director at OEM operations and events supplier Motorsport Safety and Rescue (MSR), another ex-Nissan executive, Peter Fadeyev, has joined the company as general manager.

Further bolstering the senior ranks of the Melbourne-based business, prominent Australian racecar driver, instructor, engineer and product specialist Karl Reindler has been appointed brand manager.

Mr Reindler will be based at MSR’s Tullamarine headquarters and is set to work closely with the brand team – including Cody Crocker in New South Wales and Tony Harris in Queensland – to develop and deliver new events and programs.

Daniel Lane has also started work as fleet operations co-ordinator in Melbourne, joining Matt Jones (Sydney) and Val Harris (Brisbane).

MSR founder and director Geoff Becker said Mr Fadeyev had arrived an “an important time” as the company continues to expand its operations, which now cover a broad range of areas including OEM vehicle storage and logistics, risk and safety management services, as well as specialist facilities such as on-site paramedical services for motor racing and other events.

“The magnitude of MSR’s operations have reached new levels, necessitating additions to our team and changes to our infrastructure to not only keep pace with our growth but to be ready for the next phase of expansion we have been planning for some time,” Mr Becker said.

Mr Reindler’s appointment is also seen “as a key step” for MSR, with Mr Becker saying that the motor racing specialist, who has worked as a driver development manager for the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) and drove for Nissan Motorsport Australia (Altima V8 Supercar) at one point, would provide “the depth of resource that has held our growth back in Victoria”.

Filling the vacancy created when Tyson Bowen returned to PSA Group’s Peugeot and Citroen brands as head of PR (a role he previously held under a separate distributor), Mr Fadeyev has just left Nissan after almost seven years of service including four years as general manager of corporate communications for Nissan Australia and, for the past 12 months, general manager of product communications for Nissan Motor Co Asia-Pacific.

This most recent role saw Mr Fadeyev responsible for product PR across Asia and Oceania, and although based in Melbourne the position required extensive travel throughout the region.

Before rising to general manager of corporate communications at Nissan, Mr Fadeyev spent almost a year as head of the department, rising to the position after 12 months as national media and public relations manager for affiliate Infiniti Cars Australia in a role that saw him play a major part in launching the luxury brand onto the Australian market.

Earlier in his career, Mr Fadeyev spent 18 months at Ford Australia as product communications manager (SUV/LCV) and almost four years with Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific as manager of corporate communications.

Nissan is still to advise on a replacement for Mr Fadeyev.

By Terry Martin

Karl Reindler