Saab Automobile Appoints New Sales Director

DETROIT, March 15 /PRNewswire/ --

• Experienced automotive senior executive joins Saab
• Responsible for Saab's global sales operations
• Recruited to optimize sales including three new products in the next 16 months

Saab Automobile today announced the appointment of Adrian Hallmark as Executive Director, Sales.

Hallmark joins Saab's senior management team from Volkswagen, where he was Executive Director of Asia, responsible for operations in 50 markets, including China and Japan. He takes up his new position with immediate effect and will be based at Saab's headquarters in Trollhattan, Sweden, where he will report directly to Saab Automobile President and CEO, Jan Ake Jonsson.  

Hallmark assumes responsibility for Saab's global sales operations from Knut Simonsson, who retains the position of Executive Director, Brand and Marketing.

"Saab is embarking on a new era as an independent company and I am delighted to be joining the management team at such an exciting time," said Hallmark. "With three new products about to be launched and a re-energized dealer network in place, I look forward to building sales volumes and reinforcing the brand's presence in major markets around the world."

Announcing the appointment, Jan Ake Jonsson said: "I am very pleased to welcome Adrian to our senior management team.  His broad range of experience makes him ideally suited to this role and I am confident he will add significant value as we start to regain our position in various markets and further grow the Saab business." He continued: "Over the next 16 months we will be launching three new products - the 9-5 Sedan, the 9-4X and the 9-5 SportCombi – Adrian's contribution will be vital in optimizing the sales of these exciting new products."

Hallmark is a former Managing Director of Porsche Cars GB Ltd and has also been responsible for Bentley's global sales, marketing and PR activities.  He served as Executive Vice President Volkswagen of America Inc, based in Detroit, before taking up his position as Executive Director of Asia.

SOURCE Saab Cars North America