Led by Managing Director Daniel Whitehead, the restructured Daimler Truck & Bus Australia/Pacific business has set itself an ambitious long-term goal.
In an interview with CRTAustralia journalist Tim Giles, Whitehead said the three-brand group had all the potential to be the “undisputed number one” in Australia’s truck market.
Mr Whitehead said he was “bullish” about the prospects of all three brands currently operating under the Daimler umbrella – Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner and Fuso – despite the departure of Freightliner GM Kristi Walker.
Ms Walker had joined the team after the group changed its organisational and management structure in March, but had to return to the United States less than two months into the job.
“Kristy leaving was, personally, very disappointing,” Whitehead told CRTAustralia. “I think she was an extremely capable girl, who would have brought a lot to the industry. Unfortunately, circumstances went against her and for personal reasons she headed back to the US.”
For the moment, Whitehead is looking after the Freightliner business until a replacement has been found. “I keep hearing, we have got a lot of potential. That’s nice, but not much good if you don’t actually tap into it. I would hate us to be known as one of those companies with a lot of potential that never realised it,” he said.
“With all humbleness, we don’t have any other option than to be the undisputed number one in the market, from an overall Mercedes Benz, Fuso and Freightliner perspective.”
