Wal Dumper and Simon Rutherford have each made big imprint on local car scene.

TWO dynamic figures with brands of high importance to Kiwis are departing their posts.

A day after news broke about Ford New Zealand boss Simon Rutherford (immediately above) being set to stand down, for another undetermined role with the Blue Oval, Inchcape has announced that Wallis ‘Wal’ Dumper (top image), best known for his effervescent leadership of Subaru New Zealand but also a top figure in other brands, has accepted voluntary redundancy.

Both have been top figures in the national car industry and enjoyed delivering significant success for their respective makes, while also ushering in the first wave of electric fare - respectively the Mustang Mach-E and Subaru Solterra - vital to their brands’ futures.

The Ford Ranger’s eight run as the best selling one-tonne ute and, in some years, as the country’s top-selling new passenger model, occurred under Rutherford’s stewardship.

Dumper, for his part, has since becoming managing director of Subaru NZ in 2010 headed a team that has lifted the Fuji make’s image to a remarkable point.

New Zealand achieves highest global penetration for per head of population for the make’s all-wheel-drive product, with Central Otago as an acknowledged hot spot. Dumper has also been integral to the brand’s high profile in rallying, not only at national level - where the brand dominated during the Group A and Group N period - but also in the Possum Bourne era.

In July of 2023 he was also appointed to the additional role of managing director, Inchcape New Zealand, assuming responsibility for the British-owned international operation’s takeover as importer and distributor of LDV and SsangYong vehicles.

In material shared to media today, prepared by Inchcape’s regional office in Australia, Dumper said the timing felt right to curtail, as of the end of business on March 15, a 24-year involvement in the car industry; years when he also for a short period ran the Jaguar and Land Rover brands for Inchcape, before returning to his beloved Subaru.

He had had started out with Yamaha motorcycles and Champion spark plugs.

“After more than two decades in senior leadership positions within the business, and while contemplating the possibility of retirement in the future, I have made the decision that now is the opportune moment to step aside and accept a voluntary redundancy,” he said.

“It’s time to pass the torch to new leadership as they pave the way for the next exciting chapter.”

Ford New Zealand has yet to issue a similar statement outlining Rutherford’s plans, but a spokesman told the Stuff website yesterday that Rutherford will continue working as managing director, a role he took in 2016, in the short term to help the marque transition.

Ford NZ has not made clear whether a replacement for Rutherford had been selected or what his new position is. The Briton began his working career in his homeland and has held numerous international positions with Ford, including in China, Thailand and the United States.

Dumper’s positions have been filled by two men. From Monday, the senior role, general manager Inchcape NZ, will be held by Kym Mellow, who has more than 20 years’ experience in the automotive industry, mostly with Mazda Australia. He joined Inchcape last year.

The new general magnate for Subaru New Zealand, also taking up that job from March 18, is Tim Barns-Lawton, who has been with the business since March 2005. He joined as sales coordinator, and he has held various roles since. From 2020 he has been general manager, business development and operations.
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