Andrew Gilleland is new VP of Scion, Murtha moves to Toyota
Scion is getting some fresh blood at the top as ?Andrew Gilleland (pictured above) becomes the new vice president to take over for Doug Murtha. Gilleland is no stranger to the division, and served as the national field operations manager early in the brand's launch. Murtha moves to take leadership of corporate strategy and planning for Toyota in North America.
"Now it's Andrew's charge to spread the message of the style and value of the iM and iA, as well as a third new vehicle that will be added to the lineup," Toyota division group vice president Bill Fay said in the announcement. Gilleland moves up from being general manager of Toyota's central Atlantic regional office.?
He takes the reins at Scion at a potential turning point for the division. Sales volume for the year through August is down 22.1 percent to 32,691 vehicles, but some big changes are afoot. The long-lived xB is likely about to bow out, and the brand is launching two new products with the iM and iA. They're getting some celebrity advertising, too. Spy shots also suggest the FR-S might get a refresh soon. Plus, the third model Fay teases is expected to be a compact crossover, possibly with styling inspiration from the Toyota C-HR concept. Scion could get a big boost by having an entry in that booming segment. Show full PR text New Products, Previous Player - Scion Introduces New Vice President
Andrew Gilleland Returns to Youth Brand
September 24, 2015
TORRANCE, Calif. (Sept. 24, 2015) - In the early days of Scion, when xAs and xBs were flying out of dealers' showrooms, Andrew Gilleland was the National Field Operations Manager for the youth brand. He was responsible for working with dealers to ensure they embraced the new products and processes Scion offered.
Now, Scion is entering its teen years, and Gilleland is back as Vice President of Scion, once again encouraging dealers to sell its new models and investigate new methods to attract young buyers.
"Scion has sold nearly a million vehicles since I left in 2005 and I'm excited to be back leading this team," said Gilleland. "The iM 5-door hatchback and iA sports sedan arrived at dealerships earlier this month and the response has been great. New customers are drawn to the styling and value of our new cars, and we have a terrific opportunity to increase dealer engagement and sales."
In addition to promoting Scion's vehicles, Gilleland will oversee Scion's business efforts, including the expansion of Pure Process Plus which allows customers to participate in much of the sales process from the comfort of their couches. Currently, about 60 dealerships participate with a goal of 200 over the next few years.
Prior to joining Scion, Gilleland worked throughout Toyota's field sales organization in Chicago and Cincinnati. He also worked in the Lexus Southern Area office in Atlanta. Most recently he was the General Manager of Central Atlantic Toyota regional office.
Gilleland replaces Doug Murtha who will lead Corporate Strategy and Planning for Toyota in North America.
"Doug did a great job evolving the product line for Scion," said Toyota Division Group Vice President Bill Fay. "Now it's Andrew's charge to spread the message of the style and value of the iM and iA, as well as a third new vehicle that will be added to the line-up. This is an exciting time for Scion and we look forward to seeing more new customers added to the Toyota family."
About Scion
Scion continues to be the test laboratory division for Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. From its start in 2003, Scion's goal was to offer products and processes that stand apart from the crowd. Scion offers distinctive vehicles that reflect owners' passions with a model line-up that includes the all-new iM five-door hatchback, the all-new iA sports sedan, the iconic xB urban utility vehicle, the tC sports coupe, and the FR-S rear-wheel drive sports car. Scion also appeals to a youthful audience by offering a simple, no-haggle buying experience and by engaging with potential customers in meaningful and creative ways. For more information, visit www.scion.com.
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