Service, parts and sales staff compete to be the best in the country in MMNZ’s annual Skills Competition.
MMNZ has demonstrated strength in depth across its dealership network over months of rigorous testing – but as the country’s top individuals from service, parts and sales departments went head-to-head in this year’s final, it was Christchurch Mitsubishi which set the gold standard.
Twelve finalists, who emerged from four qualifying rounds held throughout the year, were put through their paces in four categories at the Heritage Hotel in Queenstown on Monday, 27 August. The sales category was a new addition this year, included to allow sales staff to showcase their skills and benchmark their performance against their colleagues in other parts of the country.
The overall winners were:
Best Service Technician: Hamish McDonald (Christchurch Mitsubishi)
Best Service Advisor: Michael Strudwick (Mexted Mitsubishi)
Best Parts Advisor: Steve Bamber (Christchurch Mitsubishi)
Best Vehicle Sales Professional: Tania Watene (Christchurch Mitsubishi)
MMNZ General Manager Aftersales, Noel Comerford, said that while the competition was extremely tight, the representatives from Christchurch Mitsubishi had demonstrated exceptionally high expertise and consistency across all areas to take a near-clean sweep. Only Michael Strudwick from Mexted Mitsubishi in Tawa, Wellington, was able to break up the party and secure his second win in three years.
“It was great to see all of our finalists performing at such a high level,” said Comerford. “Michael has won the competition before, so he knows what it takes to be the best, but with the standard being raised every year, he has had to work hard to regain his title and has demonstrated a desire to keep improving and stay at the top of his game.
“What can we say about Christchurch? What an impressive result from a single dealership. Each individual won on their own merits, although it is clear that, as a team, they share a common goal of exceptional customer service – and a drive to deliver on that.
“Well done also to Tania as the first winner in our sales category.”
MMNZ is the only company in the Mitsubishi Motors global network to include parts and sales categories in their internal skills competition.
“We continue to look for ways to improve customer experience, and to motivate and reward dealership representatives,” said Comerford. “We want to be the best in the country at what we do, and we’re extremely proud that the individuals across our network share that desire.”
Each of the finalists was required to complete a theory examination first, before demonstrating their skills in a practical challenge.
The winners of the Best Service Technician and Best Service Advisor categories, Hamish McDonald and Michael Strudwick, will compete against the very best from around the world in a global skills competition held in Japan in February 2019.
