Long-term Motor Trucks Distributors (NZ) Ltd (MTD) general manager Murray Sowerby will retire in 2019 after an illustrious career spanning 47 years in the transport industry and 38 years with Mack Trucks.

Sowerby, whose blood is reputed to contain Mack DNA, has made a considerable contribution to MTD and to the heavy transport industry, from his start driving trucks to his current role of managing the MTD business.

His contribution was recognised when he was awarded Honorary Membership of the NZ Heavy Haulage Association (HHA) at their recent conference.

One HHA member and MTD customer summed up a typical relationship with Sowerby. He said, “…buying a Mack from Murray was a pleasurable experience, from start to finish. It was just easy. We were absolutely rapt with the end result, and better still, we have someone whom we can call a friend for life.”

The MTD business became part of the Sime Darby Commercial Group when Truck Investments Group was acquired in 2004, which included the importation of Mack products. MTD then acquired the Volvo Truck & Bus franchise as the New Zealand distributor in 2009.

Clive Jones, previously national sales manager for Volvo Truck and Bus, will replace Sowerby as general manager of MTD, effective immediately. In advance of Sowerby‘s planned retirement at the end of June 2019, Sowerby will be on the lookout for, and then mentoring, a new national sales manager for Mack Trucks.

Sowerby‘s retirement completes a number of changes in the MTD management team, including these other recent appointments – Paul France, national sales manager, Volvo Truck & Bus, and Scott Penny, national fleet account manager, Volvo Truck & Bus.