F&I Management & Training

Sam Burton, ex-managing director of Subaru and Isuzu UK, has been enticed back to the business as sales director following a management reshuffle.

Burton was Subaru’s sales director in 1995, and became managing director of both brands in 2000, before leaving in 2004 to join Mondial Assistance.

Reporting to managing director Lawrence Good, Burton will work closely with the Subaru dealer network to try to forge a stronger relationship and develop the “right sales approach to take the company forward”.

Subaru revealed that it had approached Burton to get him to come back to the business.

Suggestions that he might be groomed to take Good’s job at the top were rejected as “completely unfounded” by Subaru UK.

Kenyon Neads, previously brand director for Isuzu UK, has been appointed as marketing director across the Subaru and Isuzu brands. He will focus on national marketing campaigns and events to promote the two brands.

John Fossey, previously head of marketing for Subaru UK, now becomes brand director across Subaru and Isuzu.

His focus will be on product development, national sponsorship and brand awareness.

Mark Cousen has been appointed national franchise manager and will be responsible for recruiting a new generation of dealers.

All of the new appointments will report to Good.

Suggestions that Andrew Edmiston, managing director of parent business IM Group, was to be moving to a more hands-on operational role with Subaru specifically have been ruled out.

A spokeswoman for Subaru and Isuzu said: “Andrew Edmiston’s position will not change as a result of the reshuffle. There are also no changes planned at Daihatsu.

“We want to wait until we’ve fully explained to dealers the reasons behind the reshuffle before releasing any more information.”

DATED: 07.11.08

FEED: AM