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GMSA's Renews Sales And Marketing Team

General Motors South Africa (GMSA) has made a number of key leadership appointments in its Sales and Marketing Department to position itself for further future growth.
Malcolm Gauld, GMSA Vice President of Sales and Marketing explains, “These new appointments, effective from January 1st 2012, form the basis of a strong Sales and Marketing team. Each new appointee has proven to be dedicated, talented in their fields, and extremely knowledgeable about the company and our products. Together they create a formidable force ready to tackle a rather competitive automotive market.”
The new structure begins with Alastair Ironside, a 31 year veteran with the company, who takes a leadership role as the new General Manager, Marketing. Ironside returned to South Africa after a five year stint in Thailand where he was Director of Planning and Programme Management for South East Asia. In his role abroad he was instrumental in the development of the Chevrolet Trailblazer, the new seven-seater that will be introduced to the local market next year.
Asked what he thought of the South African market, Ironside said, “This market is one of the most brand-over-traded markets in the world; however, GMSA through its well entrenched brands Chevrolet, Opel and Isuzu, has earned credibility and respect over the years.”
Supporting his efforts are two Brand Managers. Mlungisi Nonkonyana, previously the Market Area Manager for Johannesburg, is promoted to the position of Isuzu Brand Manager after nearly nine years with the company while Chris Cradock picks up the position of Opel Brand Manager, both reporting to Ironside. Both new appointees bring a wealth of product knowledge to their new positions and are wholly dedicated to driving their respective brand identities in the SA market.
Replacing Nonkonyana in the Market Area Manager position is Juanita Smith, who has spent almost 17 years with the company. During this period, Smith held various positions within the Finance and Marketing departments, with her last position being Chevrolet Product Manager.
Meanwhile, Cyril Gumede, who has been with GMSA for nearly seven years, has accepted the challenging position as Market Planning Manager by displaying a strong aptitude towards this particular discipline. Gumede replaces Chris Cradock.
On the sales side, Isaiah Ntuli has been promoted from Regional Manager to Vehicle Sales Manager, taking over from American born, Brian Olson, who came to South Africa in 2005. Ntuli has been with GMSA for almost five years and is excited about his new role.
The globally-renowned Chevrolet brand gains a new Product Manager in Lloyd Appanna, who moves to Johannesburg from the Durban regional office.
“With this team we have the ideal skills and personalities in place to properly drive all our products to new levels of success in the South African motoring industry, and GMSA is looking forward to hitting new highs as a company in the course of 2012,” adds Gauld.
This revitalised team is tasked with continuing the remarkable strengthening of GM brands Chevrolet, Opel and Isuzu, highlighted by a year-on-year new vehicle sales increase of 24,4 per cent for 2011 compared to the previous year. This improvement of fortune is itself the result of the unrelenting focus on improving brand image undertaken by GMSA.
Gauld concludes, “We are confident that these new leaders will take GM and its brands to new heights.”