MAJOR CHANGES TO BE ANNOUNCED AT HOLDEN

Major changes at Holden to be announced – Photo: Rhys Vandersyde

UPDATED: HOLDEN’s MARKETING DIRECTOR MARK HARLAND SHOCK SUDDEN DEPARTURE

As Auto Action EXCLUSIVELY warned on Friday morning, major changes are about to be announced at Holden this afternoon.

Auto Action understands Holden’s Executive Director of Marketing, Mark Harland is leaving the company (and, we understand, General Motors), effective immediately.

Kristian Aquilina, currently Managing Director of Holden New Zealand, will replace Harland while continuing his current role until a suitable replacement is found.

Harland’s sudden departure comes just days after he announced the “suspension” to the development of Holden’s new twin-turbocharged V6 Supercars engine.

Harland oversaw the brand change for Holden which has proven to be a disaster, last month the once unstoppable “Australian car company” just sneaking into the top 10 in sales.

The suspension to the V6TT, while being candy-coated by Fishermans Bend, can only be seen as a failure, and blow to Supercars and its Gen2 regulations to welcome new manufacturers via a departure from the V8 only engine formula.

Senior GM staff, including Executive Vice President and President of GM International, flew into Melbourne to hold crisis meetings at Holden HQ two weeks ago, with rumours out of Fishermans Bend strongly suggesting Harland would be a casualty.

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