Inchape announces general manager of NZ operations

New vehicle distributor firm Inchcape, which offers Subaru and LDV locally, has named Paul Mallard as the new general manager of its New Zealand operations. 

Grandson to the late Eric Mallard, a prominent profile in New Zealand racing circles, Paul Mallard has an extensive motorsport background, which includes a stint as general manager of Rally New Zealand. 

More recently, Mallard was chief operating officer of Synlait Milk Limited, resigning from the position in December of last year. He starts as Inchcape NZ GM this week. 

“Inchcape has built a strong platform in New Zealand, supported by great partners, brands and people,” said Mallard.

“I’m looking forward to getting close to the business quickly, understanding what’s working well, and building on that to drive improved performance and better outcomes for our customers.” 

Managing director of Inchcape Australasia, Blair Read, commended Mallard for his track record and passion for the motoring industry.

“Paul is a proven operator and brings a sharp commercial mindset along with a pragmatic, execution-focused approach. His automotive background and passion makes him a perfect fit as we continue to strengthen and grow our New Zealand operations,” said Read.

Mallard’s appointment comes at a critical time for Inchcape in New Zealand.

The distributor recently dropped KGM (formerly known as SsangYong) from its line-up of OEM partners just three years after it was acquired as part of Inchcape’s purchase of Great Lakes Distributors. LDV, meanwhile, has seen its local count of dealerships drop in recent times. 

Inchcape’s marquee brand, Subaru, is in the middle of several critical new model launches, with the new Outback recently touching down locally and the fully electric Trailseeker set to arrive in the coming months. 

The Japanese brand has lost out in market share in recent months. At the end of 2025, it was the country’s 12th most popular passenger vehicle brand — its 2305 registrations representing 2% of the market. After the first six months of 2026 it has dropped to 14th, with 969 registrations.