RPO83

New Managing Director for Volvo Car Australia

Alwin Popken has been appointed Managing Director of Volvo Car Australia Pty Ltd, effective 1st March 2002. He succeeds Richard Snijders, who has been appointed CEO of Premier Automotive Group Australia.
For the last five months, Alwin Popken has been Chief Financial Officer for Volvo Car Australia.

Prior to that, for two and a half years, Alwin Popken was CFO and Product Marketing Manager for Volvo Automobile (Schweiz) AG, the Volvo importer for Switzerland, based in Zurich. Before that, he was working in planning and marketing functions in Volvo Cars Europe in Brussels and Volvo Car BV in Netherlands.

Commenting, Richard Snijders said: "I am delighted we are able to make this appointment. Alwin brings to his new role eleven years of effective managerial experience in Volvo companies both at corporate and importer level.

"We are going into 2002 off a successful 2001 with a 17% boost in sales. Our product range is both comprehensive and very competitive. With his successful track record in Switzerland, Alwin is well equipped to further grow the Volvo business in Australia."

Premier Automotive Group Australia is responsible for the Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo brands. Each of the three companies is currently in the process of moving into a new PAG headquarters in North Ryde in Sydney. The move should be completed by mid March.

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*Retired.