Volkswagen of America has named a former
Mazda executive as its top marketer.
Brian Nash joins the automaker as executive vice president of sales and marketing and chief sales and marketing officer of Volkswagen North
American Region, effective Sept. 29.
He will be responsible for developing and leading the sales, product marketing, dealer relations and after-sales strategy, with a focus on
building momentum for a refreshed lineup of Volkswagen vehicles.
He replaces Andrew Savvas, who left Volkswagen in April after 13 years. Savvas was named MediaPost’s Automotive Marketer of the Year in
February.
Nash spent more than a decade at Mazda North American Operations leading the brand to sales growth while overseeing the dealer network and introducing digital-first
retail strategies. He left Mazda in July after spending a little over a year as vice president, emerging business and innovation.
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He began his automotive career on the retail
side of the business, working within dealer groups before transitioning to an OEM.
Nash’s expertise in dealer collaboration and strategies that prioritize customer
satisfaction will be instrumental in driving the company’s growth, President and CEO Kjell Gruner says.
Also, in a strategic realignment, Rachael Zaluzec, senior vice president of
brand marketing and customer experience, VW brand North American region, along with the team she leads, will now report directly to Gruner.
Zaluzec will “maintain a
close connection with and provide essential support to Brian’s leadership team,” according to the automaker.
She will be responsible for brand strategy
in the U.S., driving an enhanced focus on brand marketing, strategic partnerships and customers. Zaluzec and her team will continue to have operational responsibility for driving
results throughout the customer lifecycle, aligned to the goals of growth and loyalty in the North American region.