New MD for Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland

03 July, 2020

Christian Coolsaet appointed to succeed Robert Grozdanovski as managing director from 1 September 2020

CHRISTIAN Coolsaet has been appointed as managing director of Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland, effective 1 September 2020. Based at Volvo Group UK & Ireland’s headquarters in Warwick, he will succeed Robert Grozdanovski who is moving to Gothenburg to take up an appointment as Volvo Trucks’ senior vice-president for the Europe Central East & East sales area.

Mr Coolsaet (pictured), who currently holds the position of managing director of Volvo Trucks Germany, will bring with him more than 20 years of Volvo experience.

Commenting on the move, Roger Alm, president of Volvo Trucks, said: ‘With his leadership and focus on building strong customer relationships, together with a solid Volvo background, Christian Coolsaet will be excellent in the role of leading Volvo Trucks in UK & Ireland and will continue building on the great work done by Robert Grozdanovski, to further develop our position in the UK market.’

Mr Coolsaet joined the Volvo Group in 1997, initially with Volvo Buses and from 2002 with Volvo Trucks, where he held various senior management roles. Before heading up Germany in 2015, he was the managing director of Volvo Trucks in Ukraine and later in Romania; commercial trucks director for Germany, Austria and Switzerland; and managing director of Volvo Trucks in South Africa.

During his five years as managing director of Volvo Trucks Germany, Mr Coolsaet was responsible for both the Volvo and Renault truck brands and played a major role in developing Volvo Trucks’ business in the German market.

Commenting on his new role, he said: ‘We have a very exciting autumn ahead of us with the launch of our new Heavy Duty truck range with four fantastic new trucks, which we very much look forward to present to customers in the UK & Ireland.’

Mr Coolsaet will be part of the management team for Volvo Trucks Europe South & West sales area where he will report to senior vice-president Jörgen Sjöstedt.