Isuzu UTE Australia appoints New MD
After four years as Managing Director of Isuzu UTE Australia, Hiroyasu Sato will depart to take up the positions of president of Mitsubishi Company (Thailand) and Thai-MC Company in Bangkok, with the position to be filled by Junta Matsui, a 15-year veteran who has led various global Isuzu and Mitsubishi Corporation divisions. Matsui will commence on March 20, 2023.
Originally from Yokohama City, Japan, Matsui joined the Isuzu Business Division of Mitsubishi Corporation in 2008, overseeing operations at Tri Petch Isuzu Sales Co until 2012, before assuming responsibility for new business developments across the Auto and Mobility divisions of Thailand, Indonesia, Russia, India and Africa.
This leadership change will assist with IUA’s momentum in continuing its retail sales growth as operations recover from the effects of the ongoing pandemic, as well as a customer-centric approach which has earned the brand awards for customer satisfaction, an area that Sato focussed on during his tenure.
In 2022 with Sato at the helm, IUA charted as one of Australia’s top-10 Automotive brands for the first time, as the ninth best-selling brand locally, with 35,323 vehicles sold and delivered.
Announcing the leadership change at the annual IUA National Dealership Meeting, Sato said he was thankful for the support over the years and is proud of IUA’s resilience and tenacity during the last few turbulent years.
“IUA’s position in the market has never been as strong as it is today, and we have our dealers and customers to thank for that, Sato told 140 Dealer staff and IUA department heads at the meeting. “Undoubtedly, Mr Matsui’s extensive history of leading various global mobility divisions for Isuzu fills me with absolute confidence that, under his leadership, IUA will continue to go from strength to strength.
“Along with the honour of welcoming the latest-generation D-MAX and MU-X to our shores in 2020 and 2021 via YouTube, which was a career highlight for me, it has been a privilege to lead the team and dealer network that has shaped the marque into the top-10 automotive brand that many Australians know and trust today,” said Sato.
“Please allow me to send my sincere gratitude to all of you, for supporting me through this very interesting and ultimately successful four-year journey… I wish you all the best and every success for the future. Thank you.”
Matsui will lead IUA’s board of directors, which includes Takeshi Yasui who oversees Parts, Aftersales and Accessories operations, Koichiro Yoshida who oversees Sales, Marketing and Product Planning functions, and Reiko Sato, who leads the Finance, IT, HR and Administration areas of the business.
Reflecting on the position of the brand locally and the team behind it, Matsui said the leadership team has been instrumental in steering the brand through one of the most challenging periods in the last decade.
“Under Mr. Sato’s watch, there have been clear results thanks to the continued focus on sustainable sales growth, whilst also concentrating on customer satisfaction and retention — three crucial areas that I plan to continue driving forward.
“With the market showing promising signs of recovery and both the D-MAX and MU-X proving popular towards the top of their respective segments, I’m hopeful we can build on the momentum that Sato-san has set for IUA,” said Matsui.
