January 1, 2008

PAUL WILLIAMS HEADS UP NEW SSANGYONG UK BUSINESS

Paul Williams has been appointed managing director of Koelliker UK Ltd, the new importers and distributors of SsangYong vehicles in the UK. He joins the Italian-owned company from Landwind Europe where, for the past year, he has been establishing the infrastructure and operations ready for the launch of the Chinese make in Europe.

Koelliker UK (KUK) is part of Gruppo Koelliker SpA, Italy’s most important private automotive business which also handles the importation and distribution of SsangYong in Italy, Austria and Hungary. KUK acquired certain assets from SsangYong UK Ltd (in administration) in December and has immediately taken responsibility for SsangYong in the UK.

Williams (46) now has the task of re-vitalising and re-launching a brand that has seen registrations fall by almost 32 per cent last year. In 2006 2,017 SsangYongs were registered, but only 1,299 have been sold to the end of November, 2007 according to the SMMT.

Williams’s track record suggests that he will make fast progress. As managing director of Kia Motors UK from 2002 to 2006, he steered the company from a volume of 12,000 to 42,000 units – a 350 per cent increase in just three years. He also took the dealer network from 90 to 160 outlets. As director of sales and marketing at Mitsubishi Motors UK, he drove car sales from 18,000 to 26,000 units from 1999 to 2002, and massively increased parts business.

He spent eight years with Inchcape-owned Daihatsu UK and as managing director, enjoyed three consecutive years of record volumes and growth. He has also held sales posts with Mercedes-Benz UK, Nissan Motor Manufacturing in Sunderland and Peugeot-Talbot.

“I got to know the people at Koelliker in Italy when I was with Kia,” said Paul Williams. “They saw an opportunity here, and it’s because of their financial strength, experience with SsangYong and other Korean makes, and their years of success that I have the confidence to take on the challenge of putting SsangYong where it really should be in the market place. It’s a good product range and many of the dealers have done an excellent job with minimal support. We start with a clean sheet for 2008 and just about everything will change.”

Gruppo Koelliker SpA is based in Milan and had a €1.6 billion turnover in 2006, selling over 90,000 vehicles. As well as handling SsangYong in Italy, Austria and Hungary, the group is also responsible for Hyundai, Kia and Mitsubishi in Italy. Founded in 1936, Gruppo Koelliker has sold over 1.4 million vehicles and now employs over 560 people.

Paul Williams is married with two children, and somehow still manages to find the time to play football, listen to music and ski in the winter.

Ends

Issued on behalf of Koelliker UK Ltd by S-Presso.