The first two months of 2026 have already seen a notable wave of movement across the fleet and automotive sector, underlining just how competitive the talent market has become. With organisations investing in growth, technology and new energy solutions, experienced leaders and specialists are in high demand. These recent appointments and career moves reflect a tight labour market, where attracting and retaining capable people is clearly a strategic priority for businesses across the industry.
Isabella Stout started a new position as Fleet Manager – Small Fleet at SG Fleet.
Tim Shaw is now Fleet Coordinator at Tradiespec.
Denise McKechnie joined GWM Australia & New Zealand as Sales & Fleet Manager.
Ryan Coyne stepped into a new role as Sales Manager – Haulmax Wingman at Australian Tyre Traders.
Wade Harriman has taken over as Managing Director at Autorola Group – Australia.
Bryce Richardson has joined Corpay as Corporate Sales Manager – ANZ.
Allan Whyte is now Fleet Maintenance Manager at Liberty Oil.
Wade Fan has a new position as Dealer Business Development Manager at Omoda Jaecoo Australia.
Lexie Bova has joined Hidrive as Partnerships & Events Manager.
Adrian Magu is now Fleet Development Manager QLD NT at GWM Australia & New Zealand.
Gavin Liu started a new role as Regional Manager (Sales & Aftersales) – West as Bucher Municipal.
Philip Browne is now Managing Director at Test My EV.
Rodney Dalpadado has joined Polestar as Fleet Sales Manager.
Stephen Brown started a new role as Head of Product – Novated Leasing at McMillan Shakespeare.
Aaron Jarvis is now Vice President EMEA at Geotab.
Darren McGinty has joined The Benevolent Society as Fleet Coordinator.
Corbin Luther has a new role as General Manager at Rise of the Phoenix.
Tyler Colless has started a new position as State Development Specialist at NTI.
Anthony Petrocco is now State Fleet Sales Manager VIC/TAS at Mitsubishi Motors Australia.
Alex Gu was appointed as the new CEO at Geely Auto Australia.
Danny Lenartic has a new position as CEO at JMC Motor Australia.
Rahul Anand Senguttuvan has joined Directed Technologies as a Business Analyst.
Ben Hutt was appointed as the new Managing Director at Janus Electric.
James Challis started a new position as National Sales Manager at Fuelco.
Rob Cowell joined GWM Australia & New Zealand as Fleet Development Manager WA/SA.
Luke Callaway has stepped into the role of General Manager – Oceania at Hendrickson.
Andrew Pendlebury was promoted to Executive Manager – Engineering at Hendrickson Asia Pacific.
Paul Riley has joined Australian Electric Vehicle Specialists as Business Development Manager.
Glen Walker is now General Manager – Operations at Austruck X.
Mike Smith has joined Booran Motors as Fleet & Business Development Manager.
Grayden Leaver has a new role as Executive General Manager – Construction Equipment at CJD Equipment.
Sean Killen as promoted to Senior Vice President at Geotab.
Tom van Grinsven joined JET Charge as Senior Business Development Manager.
Bo Christensen was appointed as Head of Fleet Transition at NewVolt.
Hayden Russell was appointed as Regional Fleet Manager at Smart Environmental.
Jake Hooper has stepped into the role as National Maintenance Manager at Splend.
Jeff Nicotra started a new job as Key Account Manager at Ford Australia.
Tim Crilly moved to JAC Motors Australia as Head of Fleet.
Sam Dabestani is now Corporate Sales Manager – Rental, FMO & Large Fleet at BMW Australia.
- Fleet Vehicle Awards: Recognising the Vehicles That Deliver Real Value for Fleets
Fleet News Group has officially launched the Fleet Vehicle Awards, a new national program designed to recognise the vehicles that deliver the best value to Australian fleet buyers. These awards focus on what matters most to organisations managing vehicles every day — cost, capability, safety, sustainability, and long-term support. Rather than relying on popularity or marketing - GWM Puts Local Conditions at the Centre of New Vehicle StrategyGWM has introduced a new vehicle development approach designed specifically for Australian and New Zealand conditions, signalling a shift towards deeper localisation as competition intensifies across the light vehicle market. Known as AT-1 (pronounced “At One”), the program is not a single product update but a long-term engineering philosophy that focuses on improving ride, handling, safety systems
- Mitsubishi ASX Aspire Review: Better Looking, Better Inside, But No Longer a Fleet BargainFor years, the Mitsubishi ASX was the safe, sensible choice sitting quietly in the value corner of the showroom. It was familiar, affordable, and easy to justify to a Fleet Manager with a spreadsheet in one hand and a depreciation forecast in the other. This new ASX Aspire is not that car anymore. Yes, it
- HiAce vs Farizon V7E: The Diesel Benchmark Meets the Electric DisruptorFor years, the diesel van has been the quiet achiever of Australian fleets. Reliable, capable and easy to deploy, the Toyota HiAce became the default choice for trades, couriers and service technicians. But the arrival of the Farizon V7E signals a shift. Not because it replaces the HiAce overnight—but because it introduces a realistic electric alternative at a price
- Isuzu UTE Australia Recognises Dealer Excellence Across National NetworkIsuzu UTE Australia has recognised the top-performing dealerships from its national network as part of the 2025 Dealer Excellence Program, highlighting the importance of customer experience and aftersales capability in maintaining strong vehicle support for owners and fleet customers. The annual program acknowledges dealerships that demonstrate consistent performance across a range of measures, including customer
