Volkswagen Appoints Former Mazda North America Executive As Head Of Sales And Marketing

According to foreign media reports, Volkswagen Group of America recently announced the appointment of former Mazda North America executive Brian Nash as the new Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, effective September 29.

Nash will succeed Andrew Savvas, who left in May of this year. Nash will be responsible for formulating and leading the sales, product marketing, dealer relations, and after-sales service strategies for Volkswagen North America.

Brian Nash; Image source: Volkswagen

Kjell Gruner, CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, stated in a written statement: "We are honored to welcome such an experienced leader. Nash's vision and experience will drive us to embark on a new chapter of growth. As we continue to strengthen our Volkswagen business, his expertise in dealer collaboration and customer satisfaction-focused strategic thinking will play a key role."

Volkswagen Group of America stated that Nash has worked at Mazda North America for over 10 years, serving as the General Manager for the Northeastern region of the United States since 2021. During this time, he not only led the brand to significant sales growth but also managed the dealer network and implemented a digital-centric retail strategy. Volkswagen indicated that Nash will bring rich management experience from the automotive industry to the company.

Prior to this, Nash worked in automotive retail at several automotive dealer groups. He initially held positions at various dealer groups before transitioning to the automotive manufacturer (OEM) system. Volkswagen stated that Nash excels at creating quantifiable results in highly competitive environments, and this expertise will strongly support Volkswagen's dealer collaboration and consumer service efforts.

In another related personnel change, Volkswagen of America announced that it has restructured part of its brand marketing team, stating that Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing and Customer Experience, Rachael Zaluzec, will now report directly to Gruner. The company stated that following this structural adjustment, Zaluzec will be responsible for brand strategy in the U.S. market, while continuing to take on "operational responsibilities for delivering outcomes across all stages of the customer lifecycle to ensure alignment with the goals of enhancing business growth and customer loyalty in the North American region."