Mr Barling was previously the brand’s national sales manager. He takes over Maserati’s senior management position after its chief operating officer Glen Sealey moved to take the reins at Renault.

Mr Sealey’s promotion follows Maserati Australia and NZ’s parent company Ateco Automotive becoming national distributor of Renault after the French brand closed Australian factory-owned representation.

Mr Barling said he was delighted to accept the new role as Maserati embarks on a new era.

“With the recent release of the Trofeo Collection, alongside the upcoming Ghibli Hybrid, and a raft of future models coming through, it’s a truly exciting time for the brand,” he said.

Mr Barling has more than 30 years of automotive experience, starting his career with Toyota. He joined the Ateco Group in 2019 following senior roles with luxury brands including Audi and Lexus.

He was also managing director of Lexus retail operations in Sydney.

Ateco Group managing director Roger Zagorski said: “Grant was always the frontrunner given his current responsibilities, and this is a progressive move to build on his recent contributions.

“Maserati is now well-placed to build on sound fundamentals here in Australia, and we look forward to supporting Grant in his new role.”

By Neil Dowling