– New sales director to strengthen leadership as LCV brand expands presence
– Experienced executive joins from Mercedes operations in Oman
– Focus on dealer performance, fleet growth as brand targets market share
– New sales director to strengthen leadership as LCV brand expands presence
– Experienced executive joins from Mercedes operations in Oman
– Focus on dealer performance, fleet growth as brand targets market share
Harris Maxus UK has appointed experienced commercial vehicle executive Gary Brown as its new UK sales director as the brand continues to expand its presence in the light commercial vehicle (LCV) market.
Brown will formally take up the position in June and will be introduced to the Harris Maxus UK dealer network at the company’s April dealer conference, where he is expected to outline his strategic priorities for the brand.
The appointment follows the arrival of Steve Hunt as managing director last autumn and forms part of the company’s wider strategy to strengthen its leadership team as Maxus grows its footprint in the UK van market.
Focus on dealer network growth
In his new role, Brown will oversee the UK sales strategy for Harris Maxus UK, working closely with dealers and fleet customers to accelerate growth across both diesel and electric LCV segments.
He brings more than 20 years of experience in commercial vehicle sales, having held senior roles across both manufacturer and dealer organisations.
His previous positions include head of dealer sales at Renault Trucks, sales manager at Volvo Truck & Bus South and national dealer retail sales manager at Mercedes. Brown has also served as dealer principal with Ridgeway, Pentagon and later Marshalls, where he managed five depots across the Mercedes commercial vehicle network.
Most recently, he spent eight years as general manager for Mercedes commercial operations in Oman, overseeing a multi-site business.
Driving Maxus market expansion
During his time in Oman, Brown led the business to first place in the truck market for two consecutive years, achieving annual sales of around 300 vehicles across four dealership locations.
He also increased service utilisation from 45% to 90% and transformed a loss-making parts operation into a profitable £4m annual revenue business.
At Harris Maxus UK, Brown will focus on three key priorities: developing dealer network sales performance, expanding the brand’s presence in the fleet market and improving competitive agility by leveraging the Harris Group’s ability to make faster decisions than larger competitors.
Brown said: “The platform on which the Maxus brand sits has so much potential. In a short period of time, we have reached 2.4% market share with some of the highest share in the electric van segment. This is a business with genuine growth potential.
“What excites me most,” he said, “is the opportunity to work with a manufacturer that can move quickly. While others may still be working through layers of decision-making, we can already be delivering solutions. With the right dealer support, the right team and focused execution, I can see us taking the market by storm.”
Steve Hunt, managing director at Harris Maxus UK, added: “Gary represents exactly the kind of experienced, results-driven leader we need to accelerate the brand’s growth in the UK market. His track record speaks for itself; he has consistently accepted challenging new roles, identified their potential and turned them into highly successful operations.
“Just as importantly, he understands the dynamics of dealer businesses, and the needs of fleet customers. Gary doesn’t simply drive sales,” he said, “he builds sustainable, profitable operations. We are confident that his expertise, combined with our excellent product offering and growing dealer network, will deliver significant rewards for the business and, crucially, a compelling business case for new customers to switch to Maxus.”
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