Al-Futtaim Motors appoint new executives in UAE

Al-Futtaim Motors, the exclusive distributor for Toyota and Lexus in the UAE, has announced the appointment of two new senior executives to enhance the customer experience across the two brands.

Saud Abbasi has taken on the role of General Manager for Lexus with responsibility for all aspects of the brand; while Simon Monahan has joined as Head of Retail for Toyota, overseeing the improvement of the customer experience.

These new positions are an integral part of the company’s plan to invest in the expansion and renewal of its brands’ presence across the Emirates, delivering a clear distinction between the Toyota and Lexus brands.

Simon Frith, Managing Director, Al-Futtaim Motors stated: “We have a firm commitment to separate the brands in terms of dealerships, servicing and marketing to further enhance customer experience. We are currently working with the company who were responsible for the renewal of the Toyota US retail operations but our new team members also have a significant role to play in the implementation of this new brand separation strategy.”

Mr Abbasi, who takes on the mantle of spearheading Al-Futtaim Motors’ development of the Lexus brand, has over 12 years of diverse automotive experience. His career began at Ford Credit in Canada before moving into brand management within Ford’s Sales and Marketing division. More recently, he spent five years developing the Lexus brand in Saudi Arabia as head of the Lexus Distributor Operations.

Mr Abbasi stated: “It is clear Lexus has been well received within the UAE and I am looking forward to the challenge of building on this successful foundation. We plan to take the business to the next level by delivering a new customer experience at every touch point: from the showroom to the service centre.”

Referring to product development, Mr Abbasi commented: “With the launch of new performance vehicles confirmed over the next year, UAE motorists will undoubtedly start to appreciate the extent of Lexus’ passion and pursuit of innovation.”

Mr Monahan has joined Al-Futtaim Motors from French manufacturer PSA Peugeot Citroen based in the UK, where he was Sales Director responsible for retailing over 100,000 cars and vans. Prior to this, he held the position of Retail Group Director running six Citroen dealerships in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow.

Mr Monahan’s role is to spearhead the programme of improvement in the way Al-Futtaim Motors Toyota meets customer needs. Explaining the challenge ahead, he stated: “I will be reviewing all aspects of the retail operation from staff to facilities to ensure our customers receive the best quality experience. The Toyota product plan for the future is fantastic, so we will also have to prepare to sell many more vehicles than we do today.”

Mr Monahan concluded: “I’m looking forward to making the Toyota customer experience here one of the best in the world”.