Isuzu Australia Limited (IAL) reinforced its Executive Leadership team it has announced today.
Former Head of Innovation, Grant Cooper, will assume the role of IAL’s new Chief of Strategy.
The newly created role follows Cooper’s recent appointment overseeing the innovation business unit in February.
In making the announcement, IAL Director and Chief Operating Officer, Andrew Harbison, described the announcement as a measured step in IAL’s immediate and long-term growth strategy.
“As market leader, Isuzu Trucks continues to set a strong direction, especially in light of the pandemic and our ongoing recovery as a sector and a nation,” he said in a statement.
“An important part of this action, while evolving to meet the needs of Australian businesses, is making sure we have the right corporate structure and resources strategically placed,” said Harbison.
As a position, the Chief of Strategy position will provide additional alignment across IAL’s key business areas according to Harbison.
“It also enables us to share executive responsibilities across a third Australian-based person,” he added.
“This will strengthen our well-honed ability to focus on innovation and data insights, allowing us to operate nimbly.”
In a media release, Cooper noted Isuzu’s customer-centric attitude toward product research and development had helped the brand retain a positive trend during an unprecedented calendar year.
“For decades now, Isuzu has understood the power of putting their customers first. It’s about listening to and learning from our customers, before supplying the right solution to meet their specific business needs,” he said.
“My time leading Innovation at Isuzu really brought home how our customers guide the Isuzu product, from conception through to hand-over on the dealership floor,” said Cooper.
“A critical part of my new role as Chief of Strategy will be deepening our use of data and advanced analytics to continually improve outcomes for our customers.”
Cooper’s meteoric rise on the corporate ladder to IAL’s executive team has been enabled, in part, by determination and loyalty per the media release.
A key part of the IAL team for the past four years, and Head of Innovation during what Isuzu described a “trial by fire of sorts in 2020″, Cooper has brought with him a foundation in strategy consulting and a track record for navigating complex problems.
“Grant’s experience delivering growth with customer-led innovation stands him in great stead taking on this new role,” said Harbison.
“He has nurtured strong international relationships with Isuzu Motors Limited, which has also been invaluable to our business planning.
“We look forward to the energy Grant will bring to the IAL leadership team. His appointment, as well as our recent sales re-structure and other staff investiture gives us solid grounding indeed as we prepare for an exciting new year.”
Harbison’s ringing endorsement echoes recent comments made in regard to Isuzu’s purchase of UD Trucks, a commercial vehicle brand much advanced in the fast evolving space of CASE — connected, autonomous, shared and electric trucks, an area, not by accident, IAL is looking to familiarise itself as a company.
IAL’s future direction is centred around data-led business efficiency and alternate powertrains for which the business unit will be responsible.