GOTEBORG, Sweden, Sept. 8, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Volvo Trucks (Nasdaq:VOLVY) (Other OTC:VOLVF) (Other OTC:VOLAFK) has appointed new managers for its operations in North and South America. As announced previously, Peter Karlsten, currently President of Volvo do Brasil, will become President of Volvo Trucks North America Inc. The new manager of Volvo Trucks' South American operations, based in Curitiba, Brazil, will be Tommy Svensson.
Peter Karlsten has held a number of executive positions, most notably for ABB, and has been stationed abroad for most of his career. He joined Volvo do Brasil in autumn 2001. His task will be to continue the ongoing restructuring of the North American market and to further improve and enhance the efficiency of the company's aftermarket support.
Tommy Svensson is leaving his current position in Germany, where he has served as President of Volvo Trucks Deutschland and the German-speaking markets of Central Europe for the past three years. He has held a number of senior positions, including Managing Director of Volvo Trucks in Britain. Tommy Svensson's aim will be to expand Volvo's operations in the 16-23 ton segment in South America. With the new Volvo VM model, which was presented last week, the ambition is to sell 1,500 trucks next year.
Tommy Svensson will be succeeded in Germany by Goran Simonsson, currently head of Volvo Trucks in Switzerland and Austria. He will assume responsibility for implementing the European division's new distribution strategy in Germany. Already in his former position, Goran Simonsson was one of the driving forces behind development of this strategy.
All the new assignments become effective as of October 1.
For further information, please contact: Claes Claeson, Media Relations, Volvo Trucks tel +46 31-66 39 08 +46 708-36 39 08 e-mail: claes.claeson@volvo.com
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