Penske Australia & New Zealand has appointed Stephen Kelly as the general manager of its Penske New Zealand business, effective immediately.
“In his short time with the business, Stephen has made a strong impact at the branch level and as a member of the New Zealand leadership team,” managing director of Penske Australia & New Zealand, Hamish Christie-Johnston, stated.
“He brings extensive experience from his time with Terra Cat and Miles Motor Group to Penske, having worked in both dealer and OEM environments, in on- and off-highway industries, and in sales, parts, and service.
“Stephen has already met with key customers, partners, and suppliers over the past few months and will continue to travel across our network to gain firsthand insights into operational priorities.”
Having joined Penske in November, Stephen will bring vast senior leadership experience across dealership, sales, parts, and service operations.
In this role, he will oversee all New Zealand branch operations, including energy solutions, mining, commercial vehicles, defence, marine, and rail, and he will continue to be based at Penske’s Christchurch branch.
With the handover process already underway, Kelly said passion was an evident theme from customers.
“The customers I have met with have clearly demonstrated a genuine passion for the brands we represent and for our partnership,” Kelly highlighted.
“From mtu and Detroit engines to MAN Truck & Bus, our customers depend on the performance and reliability of our products, which is backed by the expertise and commitment of our team.
“When world-class products are matched with the knowledge and dedication of our people, that’s the Power of Penske.”
Expressing his gratitude to Kevin Smith, Christie-Johnston added, “On behalf of Penske, I’d like to thank Kevin, our previous general manager of Penske New Zealand, for his service and wish him well in the future.”