Suzuki Australia today announced the appointment of Mr Teruhiro (Terry) Toh to the position of Managing Director, effective immediately.

Mr Toh steps up from his role as Deputy Managing Director to replace Mr Norio Fujiwara, who has taken a position with Suzuki Motor Corporation in Malaysia.

Employed with the Corporation for more than 20 years, Mr Toh came to Australia in 1995 to manage Suzuki's Motorcycle and Marine activities.

Prior to this, Mr Toh played a pivotal role in establishing Suzuki automobile dealer networks across Canada, and was chief attache to Suzuki Motor Corporation President Osamu Suzuki for three years.

"I am thrilled to be appointed Managing Director at such an exciting time within the company," Terry Toh says.

"In 1998 Suzuki Australia built a brand new head office in Melbourne, streamlined its national management and business systems and consolidated the company's position in Australia by expanding vehicle distribution to Western Australia."

"Although I have recently been involved with motorcycle and marine products, I have spent a good part of my career in Suzuki Motor Corporation's Overseas Automobile Marketing Division charting the success of Suzuki vehicle sales throughout the world.

"I believe a sound understanding of the company as a whole can only benefit Suzuki Australia as our automobile, motorcycle and marine and products compete in ever expanding and aggressive markets in 1999."

Suzuki Australia is the factory distributor of automobiles in Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory; and Suzuki motorcycle and marine products nationally.