Daimler Truck shakes up ANZ structure

In News, Daimler2 MinutesBy NZ Trucking magazineJanuary 12, 2024

Daimler Truck Australia Pacific has introduced changes to its management structure that will reflect its singular focus on customers.

The local arm of Daimler Truck is now arranged as a fully integrated brand-agnostic structure, with no division along the brand lines of Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Freightliner and Fuso.

While many of the key leadership positions remain the same, including president and CEO, Daniel Whitehead, there are no longer vice presidents of each brand.

Instead, former Mercedes-Benz Trucks Australia Pacific vice president, Andrew Assimo, is now the Daimler Truck Australia Pacific vice president, sales and marketing, covering all three brands.

Likewise, Freightliner Australia Pacific’s former vice president, Stephen Downes, is now the vice president, service, product, Vehicle Processing Centre (VPC) and elite support.

Alex Müller, who served in the role of Fuso Truck and Bus Australia vice president, has taken on a special projects role for the company.

Fuso continues as a separate entity in New Zealand, where it is managed by Keith Andrews Trucks (KAT), which works closely with Daimler Trucks Australia Pacific.

Daimler Truck Australia Pacific said it is confident the new structure, which mirrors the framework adopted in key parts of the Daimler Truck world, will lead to a better experience for its customers.

“The new Daimler Truck Australia Pacific structure takes into account feedback from our customers and dealers and addresses brand fragmentation, allowing us to better serve our customers with one face,” said Whitehead.

“It’s the best-practice model of the Daimler Truck organisation globally and it is also the way that most of our leading dealerships are structured, so we are confident our customers will really benefit from the change.”

This year is shaping as milestone year for Daimler Truck Australia Pacific with the introduction of the ground-breaking new-generation electric Fuso eCanter and Mercedes-Benz eActros trucks, which both feature class-leading technology.