Marque promotes ‘strong leader’

Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand (MMNZ) has announced that Tony Johnston has been promoted to chief operating officer.

“Over the past decade, he has proven himself as a strong leader,” says managing director Warren Brown. “Tony played a central role in MMNZ becoming the number-one passenger car brand in 2022 and is a natural successor to Dan Cook at the end of the month.”

Johnston, pictured, had two stints with the three-diamond marque bookending the 1990s before spending 13 years in senior roles across the vehicle-leasing industry. He rejoined MMNZ in 2013 as national-fleet sales manager and became head of sales in 2018.

As the company prepares for the launch of the all-new Triton later this year, Johnston, who starts in his new role on April 17, is keen to maintain and build on the brand’s success to ensure sustainable operations for MMNZ.

“There are now more than 79,000 Mitsubishis under four years old on New Zealand roads,” he says. “That provides a strong pipeline of service work for our dealers over the short to medium term.

“I will be looking to ensure that pipeline remains strong, which in turn allows us to maintain a dealer network and customer satisfaction rating second to none. I’m excited by the opportunity and looking forward to viewing the business through a slightly different lens.”

Brown adds: “I’m thrilled we have the pedigree of personnel to appoint with confidence from within the Mitsubishi family. It ensures continuity albeit with a different approach and reinforces for our team there are pathways for promotion at all levels of the company.” 

Breaking records

MMNZ has enjoyed a record-breaking five years, which have included the Covid-19 pandemic and the introduction of the government’s clean-car policies.

In 2022, it sold 23,899 units, including 17,265 passenger vehicles, to make it the most popular passenger brand in the country for that period.

It also lays claim to being the industry’s leading plug-in hybrid (PHEV) brand in the country “with 22 per cent of the EV/PHEV segment” last year.

“In financial year 2021, we sold 12,360 new vehicles and 23,665 in 2022,” says Brown. “Tony and his team had to pull out the stops to deliver 92 per cent growth in that 12-month period, which in turn led us to become the market-leading passenger car brand in 2022. 

“This promotion is recognition for Tony’s exceptional commitment to that goal and the path to its achievement.”