The Volvo Group has restructured its truck operation as it looks to “better utilise the global potential of the brands and products.”
As of 1 January, 2012, sales and marketing activities of Volvo’s four brands – Volvo Trucks, Mack Trucks, Renault Trucks and UD Trucks – will be organised into three regional units under CEO Olof Persson, while product development and production of trucks and engines will exist in two units.
Group trucks sales and marketing for the EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) region will now be directed by Peter Karlsten, the current president of Volvo Powertrain and group chief technology officer.
Accordingly, Volvo Powertrain and Volvo 3P will now be organised into two units that oversee product, purchasing and production for trucks and engines.
The Group Trucks Technology unit, led by Torbjörn Holmstöm, currently president of Volvo 3P, will focus on product planning, product development and purchasing for trucks and engines.
Global Trucks Operations will handle the production of trucks and engines and all logistics services. Mikael Bratt, currently Group CFO, will lead Global Trucks Operations.
The restructuring falls in line with Volvo Construction Equipment recent moves to centralise its sales and customer support structure, a move the company said would speed-up its response times.
“We are doing this to achieve a more agile and efficient organisation with greater focus on our customers and brands,” said Olof Persson
“The Volvo Group has seen fantastic development in the past decade and has grown into a truly global and leading player, particularly in the areas of heavy trucks, construction equipment and diesel engines,” said Persson. “But a company’s work is never done and it is now time for the next step, using improved coordination between our truck companies and our development and production units to achieve even more distinct and better focus on our customers and brands.”
