A 30-year journey for Giltrap Group’s new CEO Retail & Mobility

GILTRAP GROUP IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT DANE FISHER HAS BEEN APPOINTED AS CEO RETAIL & MOBILITY – GILTRAP GROUP. FISHER TAKES OVER THE ROLE FROM MICHAEL GILTRAP, WHOM HE WILL REPORT TO AS JOINT MANAGING DIRECTOR ALONGSIDE RICHARD GILTRAP

The new role will see Fisher continue to lead SIXT, with the ‘new mobility’ offering now fully integrated into the Group’s consumer offerings, which include 18 of the world’s leading automotive brands. “Since Sir Colin created the business in 1966, retail has always been the core. I am privileged and honoured to now lead this,” says Dane. “The changes to the market are significant — we need to be steadfast to the values that have made this an iconic Kiwi business, whilst reacting to the changing needs of the modern customer. We can be an industry leader with our commitment to embracing a customer-driven strategy.”

With a reputation as a disruptor, Fisher describes his new role as “an opportunity to help lead the family-owned company into its next 50 years”.

Fisher’s combination of experience and attitude is ideal as Giltrap Group advances into a changing automotive landscape. Giltrap Group director Michael Giltrap says: “Fisher is a proven high-performer and leader who is passionate about cars and the automotive industry. A key driver for the board is his determination to help make Giltrap Group the best automotive retailer and distributor in the world.”

It is another step on a journey that started in 1993 when a 13-year-old Dane Fisher first met Colin Giltrap while his father was buying a car. Sir Colin overheard Fisher talking about the features of different cars and told him to call him when he was ready for a job.

Four years later, he started at Giltrap Group as a part-time groomer and parts van driver. Fisher’s post-graduate roles included brand manager for Porsche and general manager of Audi New Zealand, where he took Audi to number one luxury automotive brand, a position it held for five years.

Fisher’s passion for cars saw him leap at the chance to work with Lamborghini in Italy, where he spent three years in management in Sant’Agata, first in pre-owned cars and finance, before helping create the Squadra Corse factory race team as commercial motorsport manager.

In 2014, Fisher became Infiniti’s managing director of Asia and Oceania and was on the company’s board of management. His passion for pushing the boundaries and seeking new opportunities led him to become Infiniti’s general manager of global business transformation and brand, leading five global divisions, including Infiniti Lab, the luxury car brand’s technology accelerator program for mobility start-ups.

Moving back to Auckland with his young family in 2019, Fisher returned to Giltrap Group, first as general manager of business development, then as CEO of SIXT, where he led the disruption of the automotive leasing landscape with the introduction of vehicle subscription in New Zealand.