Darren Bowler

WALKINSHAW Automotive Group director Ryan Walkinshaw has confirmed the company is not currently looking to replace the managing director of its subsidiary Fusion Automotive – the distributor of Tata vehicles in Australia – following the resignation of Darren Bowler earlier this month.

As another senior Fusion Automotive executive – marketing and communications manager Sara Smith – also left the company over the past week, Mr Walkinshaw told GoAuto that the business was undergoing a restructure.

“At this time we are not looking for a replacement for Darren Bowler,” he said. “We are currently reorganising the business structure and will go down a process for a potential replacement, if we feel it is required, later next year.”

Asked if the Tata distribution business was a firm part of the group’s ongoing business plans, Mr Walkinshaw said: “At this point, yes.”

As GoAuto has reported, Ms Smith advised earlier this month that Fusion Automotive director Ivan Krizman was overseeing the Tata business on an interim basis.

No replacement: Walkinshaw Automotive is not looking to replace MD Darren Bowler while it is “reorganising the business structure” for Fusion Automotive, however its Tata distribution operations continue “at this point”.

Tata Motors relaunched its brand – and its single offering, the Xenon utility – with Fusion Automotive in 2013. Its dealer network has grown from nine at launch to around 40.

Tata sales figures are not available through the official VFACTS reporting service of new vehicle registrations, however GoAuto understands that about 600 Xenons had been sold by mid-2015.

The Indian ute has been hampered by ultra-competitive deals in the marketplace, particularly among the well-established Japanese brands, and the lack of an automatic transmission for the 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine fitted across the range.

By Terry Martin