Long-time Mitsubishi Motors NZ executive Warren Brown is the company’s new CEO and President.
Brown (above) takes over from Japan’s Tomoki Yanagawa, who returns to Mitsubishi Motors Corporation’s head office as the general manager of the America and Oceania division.
Yanagawa, who oversaw sustained growth during his tenure here, said he leaves his role with “the utmost confidence in my successor’s capability and vision in securing the continued success of Mitsubishi in New Zealand”.
“Warren has been instrumental in helping to lead the company through eight years of consecutive growth and is backed by an exceptionally strong management team, who between them continue to drive the company forward to bigger and better things,” said Yanagawa.
“It has been an absolute pleasure to work with this motivated and passionate group of individuals. I strongly believe that the Mitsubishi business in New Zealand has great potential for further growth.”
There is no better example of Mitsubishi’s sales growth in New Zealand than figures from the past 20 months. At the end of August last year, it had registered 3878 vehicles with the NZ Transport Agency.
In the same eight-month period this year, registrations were sitting at 7475 units, representing year-on-year growth of 93 per cent.
Brown said Yanagawa arrived in NZ at a time when Mitsubishi was enjoying excellent results. “But it was still a work in progress,” he said. “The fresh insight and assured leadership that Yanagawa delivered has helped take us to the next level.
“We know there is room for improvement and we know where we need and want to get to. We have a very clear set of goals in place and, just as importantly, the drive and commitment required to achieve them.”
Brown has worked for Mitsubishi NZ for 22 years. He first joined in 1987 as a marketing operative. He worked with Toyota for some time before returning to Mitsubishi and different executive roles. In recent years he has been the company’s chief operating officer.