Isuzu Announces Raft of Appointments

News

2 Apr

Simon Humphries.

Isuzu Australia Limited (IAL) continues to strengthen its product management approach, with industry veteran Simon Humphries (pictured above, right) moving into the role of Head of Product Management & Commercial Vehicles Chief Engineer.

An Isuzu stalwart who has held several industry engineering and product development positions dating back to 1998, Mr Humphries most recently held the role of Senior Product Manager, Commercial Vehicles & Chief Engineer at IAL.

Mr Humphries now takes the reins across all product management, including vehicle specifications manufactured in Japan for the Australian market, plus the overarching management of the broader parts and accessories domain.

Critical phase

IAL Chief of Product Matt Sakhaie says the ascension comes at what is set to be a critical phase in rolling out an all-new model lineup this year.

“Simon has a wealth of experience but also enthusiasm for the Isuzu brand and the new technologies that are coming our way in 2025,” Mr Sakhaie said.

“He has been deeply entrenched in our product portfolio management strategies for the Australian market, and together with everyone at IAL, I know he’s looking forward to getting our new trucks into the hands of Australian operators very soon.

“The management of this rollout is critical in ensuring we meet the demand of customers, and Simon is a crucial part of this process and its ultimate success.”

Having worked through Isuzu’s previous full model change in 2007, Mr Humphries brings a unique brand of corporate and product knowledge some 17 years later.

“The technology and future capability of the product that is about to hit Australian shores is a game-changing moment for not just Isuzu but also the heavy vehicle industry,” said Mr Humphries.

“Ramping up to this release has absolutely been a highlight of my career, and I’m excited to see all the planning and hard work bear fruit in bringing the right product to market to meet the needs of our customers.

“Compliance is just one part of the role; it is also working with a wide range of partners from OEMs through to body builders that ensure Isuzu trucks carry out a vast array of applications across the country,” he said.

“Isuzu has an outstanding reputation for quality and reliability, and I’m convinced these new models will take that reputation to another level.”

The new role has Mr Humphries overseeing both the broader product group and engineers that work within the model teams.

“That means we've actually got more people working in product management, and given the breadth of models in the MY25 lineup, this is great news for customers,” Mr Humphries said.

“We've got the ability to analyse the data better, with two new departments at IAL—one being product management and the other focused on engineering services.

“The decision to bring the parts and accessories products under my overall remit further underlines the IAL approach to integration, both technically and aesthetically,” he said.

“Importantly, we now have full technical management of the new range, and of course, we continue to service current model requirements with those vehicles set to be on the road for many years to come.

“It is a dynamic time for the heavy vehicle industry, and Isuzu is very much at the forefront of providing the best solutions to customers for today and well into the future,” Mr Humphries concluded.

PATRICK RYAN

Further boosting its capabilities in the area of customer care and support, Isuzu Australia Limited (IAL) is pleased to announce the appointment of industry veteran, Patrick Ryan, as the brand’s new National Fleet Training & Handover Manager.

Mr Ryan joins at a pivotal moment for Isuzu Australia, which is on the cusp of releasing an all-new model range throughout the course of this year.

First turning a spanner as an apprentice mechanic in 1978, Mr Ryan joins the country’s top truck brand with a grounding of technical knowledge backing his sales and training expertise within the heavy vehicle industry.

In recent years, he’s forged a specialty role training staff in undertaking professional handovers to customers, ensuring an unrivalled beginning to the brand and ownership experience.

“With Isuzu introducing a new product range to market, it’s an incredible opportunity to join the brand,” said Mr Ryan.

“Isuzu is going to great lengths to educate all its people and dealers on the new product, and we need to impart that knowledge to fleet customers to ensure they are getting the most out of the current model and then the new trucks when they come to market.

“I have never seen such a dynamic change in the industry. What Isuzu is doing with the new model and into future drive train technology, such as EV, is incredibly exciting for a heavy vehicle veteran like me.”

**Pat Ryan with IAL Nat Fleet Sales Mgr, Grant Walford**

Complementing its zone allocation model for non-fleet buyers, the IAL Fleet department has introduced dedicated National Key Account Managers, working directly with large-volume truck buyers to ensure efficient operation and maintain critical relationships for the brand across the country.

IAL National Fleet Sales Manager, Grant Walford, said Mr Ryan’s appointment would support the Isuzu Trucks Dealer Network, alongside the Fleet team, whose focus would remain on delivering the right solutions for customer’s requirements.

“Our dedicated National Key Account Managers will continue to handle the broader sales process, but we know that with significant industry change and technology growth, we had to look at providing that next crucial part of the fleet relationship,” said Mr Walford.

“Patrick is a welcome addition to Isuzu with his expertise in facilitating handovers that ensure the customer gets the very best out of the product.

“Our new model range brings with it a raft of updates, and Patrick’s deep knowledge of how to showcase these features to our customers will help them to utilise the trucks in the best possible way.”

Mr Ryan’s role as National Fleet Training & Handover Manager is a long-term prospect, going beyond the handover process to becoming the ongoing point of contact for Isuzu fleet customers throughout their ownership process.

This will see him working closely with Isuzu’s far-reaching Dealer Network—which will continue to handle delivery and aftersales services—to understand the many and varied needs of Australian transport operators.

“I fully appreciate the diversity of Australian trades and industry; it is not a one-way street,” Mr Ryan commented.

“Dealerships are integral in the customer experience, and together, we will continue to deliver the premium experience that keeps customers coming back to Isuzu time and time again.”

KYLIE BARLIN

In lockstep with a rapidly changing Australian road transport sector, Isuzu Australia Limited (IAL) has announced that Kylie Barlin will join the brand’s executive team, heading up the growing strategy division into 2025 and beyond.

Ms Barlin’s appointment comes at a landmark juncture for Isuzu Trucks, with a new generation product line-up hitting Australian shores this year and against the backdrop of a swiftly changing and increasingly competitive market landscape.

Joining the truck market leader last year, following previous key roles at Toyota Finance and Toyota Motor Asia Pacific, Ms Barlin brings considerable experience in the automotive sector across corporate planning, ESG and enterprise strategy.

As Isuzu’s Chief Strategy Officer, Ms Barlin will oversee IAL’s enterprise strategy, innovation department, project management office and marketing department.

IAL Director and Chief Operating Officer, Andrew Harbison, said the role was critical for IAL's continued evolution into the future.

“This is an increasingly important space for us due to the ongoing requirement to create tangible solutions to the transport needs of our customers…a better way of doing business now and in the future,” Mr Harbison said.

“We’re acutely aware of the imperative to explore a range of mobility solutions to suit the rapidly changing needs of our customers and the, at times, competing requirement to provide personalised, fit-for-purpose solutions.

“It’s on us then to deliver the best product and an ownership experience that provides our customers with value beyond the actual piece of equipment they’re operating.

“Having capacity in this space—to really think outside the box and structure products and services that create new, genuine business efficiencies—is an exciting prospect for IAL to be involved in right now,” he said.

“Having someone of Kylie’s calibre step in to lead the thinking around how we do business into the future is a big win for IAL and our customers.”

The remit of IAL’s Strategy Department also takes in the development of solutions for the here and now, something Ms Barlin reflected on regarding her appointment.

“There’s a growing level of product parity across a whole range of retail markets, so part of my work is about identifying where we can be most effective in enhancing our customer’s experience with Isuzu products,” she said.

“It’s all about creating meaningful value over the lifecycle of a truck, be that from a product perspective, a piece of software or even a financial or ownership solution.

“We’ve worked hard within the department over the last twelve months to review our own offer and really home in on key areas where we can genuinely affect some change and, importantly, add value for the end user.

“We do this by best understanding what technology is available, how these tools are being employed around the world, and how we can design business services harnessing these developments to deliver reliable, quality solutions for our customers.

“I’m grateful for the vote of confidence Isuzu has shown me with this appointment, and I look forward to complementing the strong activity already well underway in this important space.”