Harris MAXUS UK has promoted Gary Brown to commercial operations director, giving him responsibility for sales, aftersales and the development of the commercial vehicle brand’s dealer network.
Brown steps up after six months as sales director and will lead MAXUS operations as the business targets further growth in the UK light commercial vehicle market.
His immediate priorities will include supporting dealers, developing sales and aftersales performance and helping the company work towards its year-end sales target.
Brown takes wider MAXUS brief
Brown has more than 30 years of experience in commercial vehicle sales and senior management, including roles with Renault Trucks, Volvo Truck & Bus and Mercedes-Benz.
He also brings experience of working at dealer level and developing retail and fleet operations.
Before joining Harris MAXUS UK, Brown spent eight years as general manager of Mercedes commercial operations in Oman. He oversaw a multi-site business and delivered improvements across sales, servicing and profitability.
His promotion follows wider changes to the Harris Group leadership team, including the appointment of Bill Laidlaw as chief operating officer.
Brown said: “MAXUS has reached a really important point in its development. We have an increasingly compelling product range, a growing dealer network and a manufacturer that is prepared to move quickly to meet the needs of the market.
“What makes this opportunity particularly exciting is the combination of those products with the scale, experience and entrepreneurial style of the Harris Group. We can make decisions quickly, support our dealers properly and respond to opportunities while others are still working through layers of complexity.”
Dealer growth takes priority
Harris MAXUS UK said Brown would use his experience of dealer and fleet operations to strengthen support for its retail partners and help them deliver sustainable growth.
The company is expected to play a significant role in Harris Group’s longer term objective of reaching €1 billion in annual revenue by 2030. The group plans to continue investing in its commercial vehicle operations, dealer network and associated services.
Brian Patterson, chief executive of Harris Group, said: “Gary has made a substantial impact since joining Harris MAXUS UK, demonstrating a combination of commercial understanding, leadership and energy that we need for the next stage of our development.
“He understands what makes a dealer successful, he understands the demands of fleet customers and, importantly, he understands how to turn opportunity into sustainable and profitable growth.”
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