Former Car and Driver executive editor and veteran automotive journalist Mark Gillies has signed on with the Volkswagen PR machine as product and technology communications manager. Gillies spent 28 years making the rounds among automotive publications, working as an editor at David E. Davis, Jr.'s Automobile Magazine, and churning out copy for England's CAR and Autocar. Gillies also spent time hunting down stories for AutoWeek and Classic & Sportscar.
In his new role at Volkswagen, the former scoop will report to Scott Vazin, the company's newly-hired vice president for public relations formerly from Nissan. As a former journo, Gillies will be shouldered with helping to promote new VW products and technologies.
Gillies' new boss has been working in the automotive PR business for more than 20 years, getting his start at Mitsubishi in 1990. From there, he moved on to a job at Nissan, finishing his time there as general manager of Corporate and Public Communications in Europe.
Vazin starts his new job on April 18, followed by Gillies on May 1.
[Source: Volkswagen | Image: Damon Lavrinc/AOL]
In his new role at Volkswagen, the former scoop will report to Scott Vazin, the company's newly-hired vice president for public relations formerly from Nissan. As a former journo, Gillies will be shouldered with helping to promote new VW products and technologies.
Gillies' new boss has been working in the automotive PR business for more than 20 years, getting his start at Mitsubishi in 1990. From there, he moved on to a job at Nissan, finishing his time there as general manager of Corporate and Public Communications in Europe.
Vazin starts his new job on April 18, followed by Gillies on May 1.
[Source: Volkswagen | Image: Damon Lavrinc/AOL]
Volkswagen Brand Announces Lead Communicator; Head of Product and Technology Communications
Herndon, VA (April 13, 2011) -- Volkswagen today announced the appointment of two key communications executives. Scott Vazin has joined the company as vice president of Volkswagen Public Relations. The company also announced that veteran automotive journalist Mark Gillies has joined the Volkswagen team as product and technology communications manager.
"A strong communications team is vital to achieving our growth goals here in the U.S.," said Jonathan Browning, president and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America. "These are important positions for the company and we look forward to working with Scott and Mark to maintain the momentum we're building."
Vazin joins Volkswagen from Nissan where he most recently served as Director of Product and Consumer Communications. He was with Nissan for nearly15 years in a variety of key communications positions, including serving as general manager, Corporate and Product Communications in Europe for Nissan Europe S.A.S. from 2004 through 2006.
Vazin started his automotive career at Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America in California in 1990.
"I am extremely pleased to add Scott to the Volkswagen team," said Tony Cervone, Executive Vice President, Group Communications, Volkswagen Group of America. "He is an automotive enthusiast, growing up in the LA area where he spent his youth rebuilding and accessorizing his cars, then joining the professional automotive industry on the analytical and product planning side, but quickly finding his niche as a product communicator."
"Scott is a perfect fit to lead the Volkswagen brand public relations team."
Vazin joins Volkswagen April 18.
For the past 28 years, Gillies has written for, and edited, some of the industry's most respected publications, serving most recently as executive editor at Car and Driver magazine in the U.S. Over his career, Gillies has been editor for Automobile Magazine and CAR in the UK; and written for Autocar, Autoweek and Classic & Sportscar Magazine.
Gillies begins on May 1 and will report to Vazin.
Herndon, VA (April 13, 2011) -- Volkswagen today announced the appointment of two key communications executives. Scott Vazin has joined the company as vice president of Volkswagen Public Relations. The company also announced that veteran automotive journalist Mark Gillies has joined the Volkswagen team as product and technology communications manager.
"A strong communications team is vital to achieving our growth goals here in the U.S.," said Jonathan Browning, president and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America. "These are important positions for the company and we look forward to working with Scott and Mark to maintain the momentum we're building."
Vazin joins Volkswagen from Nissan where he most recently served as Director of Product and Consumer Communications. He was with Nissan for nearly15 years in a variety of key communications positions, including serving as general manager, Corporate and Product Communications in Europe for Nissan Europe S.A.S. from 2004 through 2006.
Vazin started his automotive career at Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America in California in 1990.
"I am extremely pleased to add Scott to the Volkswagen team," said Tony Cervone, Executive Vice President, Group Communications, Volkswagen Group of America. "He is an automotive enthusiast, growing up in the LA area where he spent his youth rebuilding and accessorizing his cars, then joining the professional automotive industry on the analytical and product planning side, but quickly finding his niche as a product communicator."
"Scott is a perfect fit to lead the Volkswagen brand public relations team."
Vazin joins Volkswagen April 18.
For the past 28 years, Gillies has written for, and edited, some of the industry's most respected publications, serving most recently as executive editor at Car and Driver magazine in the U.S. Over his career, Gillies has been editor for Automobile Magazine and CAR in the UK; and written for Autocar, Autoweek and Classic & Sportscar Magazine.
Gillies begins on May 1 and will report to Vazin.
Sign in to post
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Continue