The new chief operating officer’s first day in the new role will be April 17.
Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand is delighted to announce the promotion of head of sales Tony Johnston to chief operating officer.
MMNZ managing director Warren Brown said: “Over the past decade, Tony has proven himself as a strong leader. He played a central role in MMNZ becoming the No 1 passenger car brand in 2022 and is a natural successor to the role that will be vacated by Dan Cook at the end of the month.”
Johnston worked for the three-diamond brand with two stints bookending the 1990s, before spending 13 years working in senior roles in the vehicle leasing industry. He re-joined MMNZ in 2013 as national fleet sales manager and became head of sales in 2018.
“I am thrilled we have the pedigree of personnel to be able to appoint with confidence from within the Mitsubishi family,” said Brown. “It ensures continuity, albeit with a different approach, but it also reinforces for our team that there are pathways for promotion at all levels of the business.”
“In FY21, we sold 12,360 new vehicles and 23,665 in FY22,” said Brown. “Tony and his team had to really pull out the stops to deliver 92% sales growth in that 12-month period … This promotion is recognition for Tony’s exceptional commitment to that goal and the path to its achievement.”
Johnston said he’s keen to maintain and build on the brand’s success in New Zealand to ensure sustainable operation for MMNZ and its dealer network.
“There are now over 79,000 Mitsubishi’s under four years old on New Zealand roads; that provides a strong pipeline of service work for our dealers over the short to medium term,” he said. “I will be looking to ensure that pipeline remains strong, which in turn allows us to maintain a dealer network and a customer satisfaction rating that is second to none.
“I’m excited by the opportunity and looking forward to viewing the business through a slightly different lens.”
Johnston’s first day in the new role will be April 17.
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