ISUZU TEAM ELITE GEARED FOR SUCCESS

Excellence in customer care and support is firmly in focus for Isuzu, with the nation’s top selling truck brand recognising its Team Elite talent at a gala awards dinner over the weekend of the Brisbane Truck Show.

Isuzu Trucks celebrates its 34^th consecutive year of sales leadership with a record 13,360 trucks sold across Australia in 2022. A pillar to this success is Isuzu’s laser focus on the customer in both sales and aftersales support.

Now running for over 20 years, the Team Elite program offers generous incentives that attract the cream of Australia’s truck sales, service, and parts specialists.

The program encourages excellence in all aspects of customer care and showcases the skills and knowledge accumulated each year across its extensive dealer network—with the effects enjoyed by Isuzu customers down the line.

SALES CHAMPIONS RECOGNISED

The Team Elite sales award for 2022 concluded with the National Champion Sales Consultant competition, held at the Isuzu Australia Limited (IAL) Head Office in Truganina, Melbourne.

Three leading sales consultants from across the Isuzu Trucks dealer network are chosen to participate in the National Champion Sales Consultant Competition.

They are tested on a trio of integral truck sales elements: product knowledge, brand knowledge and truck model–specific knowledge. This includes completing a series of written and practical examinations such as simulated sales scenarios.

Richard Pineros of Blacklocks Isuzu (VIC), Shane Hilder of Webster Trucks (TAS) and Brandon Kemp of Suttons Motors Arncliffe (NSW) earned their place at the head of this year’s pack.

After a gruelling test to see who would reign supreme, IAL Head of Sales, Craig White, awarded the top prize to Shane Hilder of Webster Trucks. Accumulating the highest points overall, Mr Hilder was crowned National Champion Sales Consultant for 2022, marking an eighth victory for the Tasmanian truck expert.

“Eight wins for this prestigious award is an amazing achievement for Shane, especially against very stiff competition from Richard and Brandon,” said Mr White.

“The Team Elite competition has been running for well over 20 years and has gone from strength-to-strength during that time, serving to highlight the incredible talent and dedication of the people working across the Isuzu network.

“And this year we had even more reason to celebrate, as we held the awards for the first time at a gala event as part of our activities around the Brisbane Truck Show.

“Congratulations to our champions who have shown once again the enormous benefit that excellence in sales can bring to Isuzu, our dealers and of course our loyal customers.”

Mr Hilder commented on his well-deserved win.

“I am honoured to win against really professional competition from around Australia,” said Mr Hilder.

“Like the industry itself, the Team Elite competition has evolved, and I am pleased that Isuzu keeps it at an incredibly high standard.

“Bringing us all together for an awards evening alongside the Brisbane Truck Show has been a major highlight. Isuzu set the standard at the Truck Show, and that in itself gives us all in the dealer network excitement and confidence going forward.

“The great thing for the customer is that they are getting the best product from the best people from dealerships that are led by Australia’s number one truck brand in Isuzu.”

SERVICE & PARTS AWARDS

Aftersales, which includes service and parts, is critical for the success of the Isuzu brand along with being integral in supporting the nation's growing freight task.

In the Service Manager category, which recognised exceptional performance in attaining service goals and initiatives, the accolades were awarded to David Ireland of Major Motors (WA), Jonnie Arnel of Ballarat Isuzu (VIC) and Laurie Johnson from Gippsland Truck Centre (VIC).

The same criteria was applied in the parts category of Isuzu’s 2022 Team Elite Awards, Bobby Menechella of North East Isuzu (SA), Shaun Elliott of Central Isuzu (QLD) and Clinton Whelan of Gippsland Truck Centre (VIC) accumulated the highest points, taking out top honours.

REPRESENTING THE BEST

Never content to rest on past laurels, Isuzu holds the Team Elite program each year to illustrate its commitment to excellence in service through staff training and knowledge retention—rewarding the next generation of performers whose day-to-day job is building genuine relationships with Australian businesses.

In all, more than 40 Isuzu Trucks dealer staff were recognised at the gala event.

“Everyone here is a champion for Isuzu and an advocate for our brand promise of reliability across the board,” said Head of Aftersales Brett Stewart.

“We have and will continue to deliver to our customers the very best there is in truck sales and aftercare support.

“Well done to our winners and well done indeed to all in our dealer network for another ground-breaking year at the top of the Australian truck market.”