Volvo Australia managing director moves to Japan

VOLVO Car Australia and New Zealand managing director, Alan Desselss, has been appointed president and CEO of Volvo Cars Japan.

Mr Desselss, 56, joined Volvo Car Australia (VCA) in 2001 as sales director and was promoted to managing director in late 2005, when Steve Blyth took up the role of president and CEO of Volvo Car Canada and Volvo Car Mexico.

Mr Desselss replaces former Premium Automotive Group Australia CEO and VCA managing director Richard Snijders, who has taken up the post of CEO of Volvo Cars China.

In his time at the helm, Desselss oversaw sales growth of 60 per cent for the Swedish brand, including a record 4945 sales in 2010.

He will begin his tenure on March 1, while his successor to the Volvo Australia post is yet to be announced.