tiresandparts.net8Can you begin by telling us a little about yourself and your experience?I was appointed Managing Director for SAIC Motor Middle East in July of 2017. It was a challenging role to undertake especially in the current market conditions, but a challenge I have enjoyed. In the past 18 months it has been encouraging to see the brand making great strides forwards - not only in terms of sales, but also in brand awareness and perception - right across the region.I have a solid knowledge of the Middle East region from four years in the role of Head of the Middle East and Africa for Hyundai. During this time, I was responsible for consolidating the Middle East and Africa regions under one umbrella, and throughout my tenure Hyundai saw four consecutive record sales years. The automotive industry has been the focus for my entire professional life. I joined Hyundai after gaining a master’s degree from George Washington University, and worked for the company for 30 years in a variety of roles and territories, including the role of Executive Director of the Export Planning Group for Hyundai and Executive Senior Sales Coordinator in the United States.MG is perceived as a newcomer in the UAE market. Has that been an advantage or a disadvantage as you compete with more established players here?While recent years have proved challenging for many industries – and not just the automotive industry – MG Motor has seen substantial growth across the Middle East, despite being a relatively young brand in the region competing with many more established brands. There are a number of reasons why the MG Motor brand has seen an impressive growth over the last year; our customers recognize that we offer a premium package with a reasonable price tag – our combination of high-quality materials, cutting-edge technology and generous equipment levels as standard - are what you would expect of a high-end car brand. And, our approach to styling and design is another reason we have seen our model range appeal to motorists in the region. In terms of our aftermarket operations, we select only the very best retail partners who can deliver the very best customer service. We support the distributors’ efforts in improving their customer satisfaction with an unparalleled manufacturer’s warranty of six years or 200,000 km, whichever comes first.What are the main benefits that your models offer to customers in comparison to other brands that are available in the market?MG models compete directly with a wide range of models from other mainstream manufacturers, not just from Asia but around the world. The use of innovative technology in our products, paired with stylish design, high quality finish and MG’s unrivalled aftersales service, puts us in a very strong position, not forgetting the fact that even our entry level models are extremely well equipped. All of which ensures we deliver fantastic value for money.MG ownership comes with peace of mind. We take pride in ensuring our customer experience is at the heart of everything we do. Our MG Care Program offers a range of service packages and convenient door-to-door service which takes the hassle out of the car’s maintenance schedule. And, with our very competitive warranty program of six years or 200,000 km, our customers need not worry about the reliability of our cars. Put these together with our loyalty program which rewards MG owners and we have a community of very happy and satisfied customers who help build a positive reputation by word of mouth.MIDDLE EAST MANAGING DIRECTOR - SAIC MOTOR
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