There’s a new face at the helm of several dealerships in Langley’s luxury auto mall.
Automotive retail veteran Dimitri Kotsalis is the new general manager of the BMW and MINI Langley dealership, also taking over responsibility for operation of Porsche Centre Langley, OpenRoad Exotics, and Infiniti Langley.
He’s replacing Aly Jiwani – actually switching spots. Jiwani is taking over the general manager duties of the BMW Store, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Vancouver, and MINI Yaletown.
Both Kotsalis and Jiwani are both veterans in the automotive retail industry, said OpenRoad Auto Group president and CEO Christian Chia.
Kotsalis has a long history in the automotive industry and was the former general manager of Mercedes-Benz Richmond and Mercedes-Benz Markham and is a three-time winner of the Mercedes-Benz retailer of the year award, Chia explained.
He is also a former dealer principal with Mercedes-Benz Australia, where he managed three factory-owned dealerships, including Australia’s flagship Mercedes-Benz of Sydney location for close to three years.
In 2009, Kotsalis returned to Canada to take on the role of western regional manager with BMW Canada before becoming the general manager of OpenRoad’s The BMW Store, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Vancouver and MINI Yaletown in 2011.
Kotsalis continues to be what Chia calls “a key player” in increasing OpenRoad’s market share in the Greater Vancouver area and now specifically in the Fraser Valley, with his new duties.
OpenRoad’s senior management changes are the result of continued growth within the company’s 18 dealerships.
“The changes are also an example of the company’s award winning personnel strategy aimed to keep employees challenged and engaged through new opportunities and training,” said the president.
“In an industry where staff retention is typically low, OpenRoad has one of Canada’s highest retention rates at more than 90 per cent, which has been achieved through customized employee programs aimed to enhance employee satisfaction and brand loyalty.”
OpenRoad Auto Group is B.C.’s largest automotive dealership group with more than 900 associates representing 14 automotive brands at 18 full-service car dealerships, including BMW Langley, MINI Langley, Porsche Centre Langley, Open Road Infiniti, Jaguar Langley, Land Rover Langley, and Open Road Exotics.
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