Fusion Automotive MD resigns

AUSTRALIAN Tata Motors distributor Fusion Automotive is looking for a new managing director after Darren Bowler stepped down from the position yesterday.

Fusion Automotive director Ivan Krizman is now overseeing the business, although GoAuto understands that this will be on an interim basis while the company – which is part of the large Walkinshaw Automotive Group – considers a replacement.

Fusion Automotive marketing and communications manager Sara Smith told GoAuto that Mr Bowler had left on good terms and had resigned “to spend some time with his family and to pursue other interests”.

“Darren worked for the company for 15 years and has decided to change things up,” she said.

Mr Bowler had been a director of Walkinshaw Automotive Group since 2012 and served in a number of key positions over the years, including sales and marketing general manager for Holden Special Vehicles (HSV).

He joined the Walkinshaw operations in 2000 as a regional manager for HSV, and within three years had risen to national sales manager for the performance brand. In 2005 he added responsibility for marketing.

As head of Fusion Automotive – a position he took on early in 2013 – Mr Bowler oversaw the Australian relaunch of Tata Motors with the Xenon utility, and the establishment of a new dealer network.

Before his move to the Walkinshaw Group, Mr Bowler was a regional manager for Audi Australia, working across several states from 1995 to 2000.