New boss for Mazda Australia

Mazda Australia -- the company that sells the nation's top-selling car and is the second biggest brand behind Toyota -- has a new boss at the wheel.

Martin Benders, 61, originally from Queensland, has returned to Australia after senior roles in Europe and Japan.

He replaces Doug Dickson, 64, who is due to retire at the end of this month after 35 years with the company, the last nine as managing director.

Mr Benders is one of the highest-ranking Australians to run a car company locally since Jac Nasser and Geoff Polites went from Ford Australia to senior international roles, and Holden’s Kevin Wale was promoted to run General Motors’ operations in China.

Mr Benders has worked for Mazda for 27 years but has spent the past six years abroad. After starting his career in 1987 in Mazda’s Queensland state office before becoming Victorian state manager in 1990, Mr Benders became marketing manager at Mazda Australia in 1997.

In 2007 he was promoted to head Global Product Marketing at Mazda headquarters in Hiroshima Japan. In 2010 he became Vice President of Sales for Mazda Motor Europe.

Mr Benders has started a three-week handover at Mazda’s Melbourne head office before he takes up office officially on May 1. Mazda director Yuji Nakamine said Martin Benders’ global experience “will ensure that Mazda in Australia continues to be strong”.

Outgoing boss Doug Dickson oversaw Mazda Australia’s growth from a niche player to become the second biggest-selling automotive brand outright behind Toyota. On his watch, the Mazda3 small car ended the Holden Commodore’s reign as Australia’s favourite car for 15 years in a row.

Mr Dickson also drove Mazda to become the top selling import brand in Australia for the past eight years.

Last year Mazda established another milestone, becoming the first import brand in Australia to sell more than 100,000 vehicles in a calendar year. “These achievements are testament to Mr Dickson’s leadership,” Mr Nakamine said.

This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling