New challenge: John Whalley says the diversity of Ateco’s brands were among the reasons behind his decision to move to Australia’s biggest independent importer.

FORMER Renault Australia director of network development John Whalley has moved to the Ateco Group as group general manager of dealer development, charged with managing and expanding retail operations across its various brands including Maserati, LDV, SsangYong, Chery and Foton.

He will also be responsible for dealership appointment and management for American Special Vehicles’ Ram operation, which is a joint venture between Ateco – Australia’s biggest independent importer – and the Walkinshaw Group, a leader in special vehicles.

Mr Whalley, 48, fills the vacancy created earlier this year when David Stone, who had overseen Ateco’s dealer operations for the past eight years, left the company to join Volkswagen Group Australia as general manager of network development.

David Stone

Based in Sydney at Ateco’s headquarters in Waterloo, Mr Whalley becomes part of the new-look executive leadership team under managing director Roger Zagorski, who was appointed in July to succeed the retiring Ric Hull.

Auckland-based Umberto Benucci was subsequently named chief executive of the group’s retail and dealer financial services arm, Branded Financial Services, in both Australia and New Zealand, replacing Mr Zagorski.

“A strong and successful group of dealers is absolutely central to the Ateco business,” Mr Zagorski said this week.

“John has a proven track record of appointing the best automotive dealers in Australia and then working with those companies to grow and strengthen their businesses.

“Strong, successful dealers ensure that our business is successful and it guarantees that the owners of the products we import receive only the best quality of customer service.”

At Renault, Mr Whalley joined the company in April 2011 and played a key role in developing the French brand’s retail network in Australia, which at the time stood at 22 dealers. It now has more than 50 retail outlets, with sales having grown from less than 2000 units in 2010 to more than 11,500 last year.

He previously worked for Deloitte Motor Industry Services Australia, providing strategic consulting services for more than 100 dealers across multiple car brands, and earlier in his career worked for Volkswagen, Hyundai and Toyota in dealer development positions.

He also has experience working in the retail side of the industry with the multi-franchise dealer AC McGrath and Co in Sydney’s west.

“The automotive industry is entering a significant period of change from how and where it sources vehicles, through the type of vehicles customers want to own to how we attract and retain customers,” Mr Whalley said.

“Dealerships will have to change and develop to meet these new challenges. I am looking forward to working with the Ateco group’s dealers to help them meet these new challenges as well as appointing the best dealers in Australia to work with the diverse range of brands handled by Ateco.

“This diversity of businesses as well as agility of Ateco are factors which make my new role both uniquely interesting and challenging.”

By Terry Martin