Davis honoured for work at Toyota NZ
Alistair Davis, whose career with Toyota NZ has spanned more than four decades, has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the motor industry, business and sustainability.
He has held national and international roles with the company. He was chief executive from 2008 until he retired in early 2020 and now serves as non-executive chairman of the board.
“I feel very blessed to be recognised in the new year honours,” says Davis.
“I’ve just tried to do the right thing with issues in front of me at the time, whether addressing the sustainability of motoring when faced with a growing understanding of climate change or improving customer experience in buying a car.”
Davis’ citation for his honour states he has assisted the leadership of motor-industry transitions and the drive towards sustainability in vehicles and the delivery of a new industry service model.
“He has strongly advocated for standards in emissions, clean motoring and productivity,” it adds.
“Davis played a key role in the launch of the Toyota Racing Series as a development platform for young New Zealand drivers in 2005.
“He has been involved in Toyota sponsoring the Sustainable Business Network and Lexus Song Quest since the mid-2000s, Emirates Team NZ challenging for the America’s Cup and the Department of Conservation’s Kiwi Guardians Programme since 2016.”
Davis served as president of the Motor Industry Association from 2009-12 having been a founding member since 1996.
He was a founding member of the Sustainable Business Council in 2012 and was its chairman from 2015-19.
The citation adds: “He has been a member of the Massey University Council since 2018 and chaired the university’s College of Business Advisory Board from 2010-15.
“Davis has been involved with Alpha NZ, the national branch of the international Christian organisation, since the 1980s and was its chairman from the early 1990s until 2010.”
Looking back
Davis joined Toyota NZ in the late 1970s on the day after his last university exam. He then graduated from Victoria University of Wellington in 1979 with law, commerce and administration degrees.
Starting with the company in an accounting role, Davis was eventually promoted to general manager of sales, marketing and planning in 1987. Toyota reached the top sales position in New Zealand the following year.
In 1995, he was promoted to senior general manager with responsibility for after-sales functions, as well as taking on responsibilities for new and used vehicle sales and Toyota NZ marketing.
In the early 2000s, he was seconded to Toyota Motor Sales in the US with a range of assignments, including assisting Jim Lentz with the launch the youth brand Scion. Lentz went on to become president of Toyota North America.
Shortly after his return in 2004, he was appointed executive director of Toyota NZ before being promoted to chief operating officer in 2007.
In January 2008, he took over as chief executive officer when Bob Field, who held the position for 25 years, retired. It was position he held until his own retirement last year.
“Alistair has made a significant contribution to not only Toyota and the motor industry, but to a number of sustainability initiatives in New Zealand,” says Neeraj Lala, who took over the reins at Toyota NZ from Davis.
“It is a proud moment for the whole Davis family and congratulations on behalf of his entire Toyota family.”
During his time at the company, Davis advocated for standards in emissions, clean motoring and productivity.
This was in addition to being involved in key changes in the New Zealand-new and used-car sectors with the introduction of the Signature Class brand for refurbished ex-lease and used-import cars in 1997.
Then, in 2018, came a major change for Toyota NZ when it shifted away from the traditional dealership model to an agency-based model with the Drive Happy Project, which took a decade to prepare.
