Big role: Darren Leyshon’s new job as head of IAM Oceania sees him responsible for the sales and business development of ZF Services full product range across all aftermarket categories.

EXPERIENCED automotive aftermarket industry executive Darren Leyshon has returned to ZF Services Australia as head of IAM Oceania.

Mr Leyshon has more than 30 years behind him in the Australian and New Zealand independent aftermarket sector, including 11 years with ZF from 2006 to 2017, where he rose from sales manager to aftersales business manager in 2009 and was a member of the executive management group.

Prior to that, Mr Leyshon spent some 18 years with Tenneco Automotive, working his way up through the ranks to become regional manager, reporting to the company’s Shanghai-based vice-president of aftermarket for the Asian region.

Along the way he held various senior management roles with Tenneco across Australasia, including state manager for New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and New Zealand. He was also responsible for the Queensland and Northern Territory region at one stage.

In the new role at ZF, Mr Leyshon is responsible for sales and business development of the entire product range across all aftermarket categories, including the passenger car and commercial vehicle markets in the Oceania region.

IAM Asia-Pacific business unit head Dominic Roth said: “We are pleased to welcome Darren back to the team. He is held in very high esteem within the industry, and his business acumen, extensive experience and the passion he has for his work make him a uniquely qualified candidate.

Mark Lowe

“As we enter what is an exciting period of growth for our business, we do so with our most experienced and credentialled team ever.”

Mr Leyshon’s return to ZF follows the recent appointment of Mark Lowe as managing director of ZF Services Australia, effective since October 1 and a role that covers the Oceania region.

Mr Lowe joined the company in November 2011 as chief financial officer, holding the position for around five years before moving to ZF Aftermarket headquarters in Germany to become divisional controller for the manufacturing and domain materials management business unit.

Earlier in his career, Mr Lowe held senior financial roles with GWA Group, Goodman Fielder and McDonald’s Australia.

He has replaced former ZF Services Australia MD Mark Sookias, who had been in the job since mid-2016.

By Terry Martin