In a move to reinforce and consolidate its strong leadership position, Al-Futtaim Automotive has announced the appointment of Antoine Barthes as the automotive conglomerate’s Vice-President.
Antoine takes the reins of the business with full responsibility for the leadership and development of the business operations across all regions and segments such as passenger and electric vehicles, motorcycles, commercial vehicles, industrial equipment and agricultural products.
The appointment signifies the automotive giant’s clear intent on continuing growing and diversifying the portfolio, underpinned by its core customer-centric approach.
Bringing with him 25 years of diverse experiences, Antoine will play an integral role in devising strategies to maintain the company’s leadership across the 10 countries they operate in.
Antoine will also steer the company on the sustainability and digitalization path to ensure Al-Futtaim Automotive achieves its mission to become the new category leader in green mobility and Mobility-as-a-Service.
Antoine has previously helmed some of the biggest global automotive operations, overseeing the growth of major manufacturers such as Ford Motor Company and Nissan across Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. He spent two decades managing the full portfolio of brands for Nissan Motor Corporation. He was also in charge of Nissan’s biggest operations based in China, with more than 1 million cars sold annually.
He arrives with an extensive mix of expertise covering the entire automotive value-chain, including sales and marketing, product development, operations, logistics, network and distribution, and corporate management.
Prior to joining Al-Futtaim Automotive, he was Nissan’s Corporate Vice-President and Head of Global Sales, Dealer Network Development, and Customer Quality, based at the manufacturer’s Global headquarters in Japan.
Al-Futtaim Automotive is a distinct player in the UAE auto industry, with exclusive distribution rights to brands such as Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Volvo, Jeep, RAM, and Dodge. The company is also the sole distributor for BYD, the world’s leading new energy manufacturer, and the Swedish performance all-electric – Polestar, with the recently launched Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility Company.
Al-Futtaim Automotive is one of five divisions within the Al-Futtaim Group which provides quality products and services that enrich people’s lives and aspirations each and every day.
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