Keith Child, the long-standing Marketing Director of leading truck distributor Isuzu Truck (UK) Ltd had announced his departure from the company today. In a surprise announcement to the press, Child said that he had thoroughly enjoyed his sixteen years with the company but now felt that he had done as much as he could with ITUK. He said it was time to hand over the reins to a younger generation of marketeers and that this gives him the opportunity to enjoy a well-deserved break and some time off to consider what he wants to do next to complete what has already been a most fulfilling career.
Child joined the board of Isuzu Truck in September of 2000, initially as PR and Marketing Director, reporting directly to managing director, Nikki King. In 2004, he was part of the team that led the management buy-out of the company from RAC plc and it was at this time that his title changed to Marketing Director.
In 2007 the company moved from a rented property in Ware, Hertfordshire to a new headquarters in Hatfield. Then in March 2013, Child was part of the team that successfully negotiated the sale of the business to Isuzu Motors Ltd, Japan. He was retained as Marketing Director and legal board member by the new owners.
Over the years Child has ensured that the company’s unique customer CARE ethos has been promoted at every opportunity. He invented and successfully launched the names of ‘Grafter’ for the company’s 3.5t range, ‘Easyshift’ for Isuzu’s automated transmission and ‘Urban’ for the company’s new Euro VI, lightweight, 7.5 tonner: names now well-recognised throughout the UK commercial vehicle industry.
Of particular note was his launch of Isuzu’s new model range to the press, dealers and fleet customers in 2008 inside a circus tent at the Milton Keynes Bowl; unveiling Isuzu’s new hexapod design cab of differing sizes from 3.5 tonnes right up to 18 tonnes GVW. And for all seasoned visitors to the CV Show, Child will also be remembered for his most innovative approach to customer hospitality on the Isuzu Truck stand in the form of ‘bangers and mash’.
Pete Murphy, managing director of Isuzu Truck (UK) Ltd said; “We would all like to thank Keith for his considerable contribution to the success of Isuzu Truck (UK) Ltd over the past sixteen years, and we wish him the very best for the future.”
Prior to joing Isuzu, Child spent 18 years with what is now DAF Trucks (UK) Ltd. In 1982, he joined DAF Trucks (GB) Ltd in Marlow as Parts Technical Adviser for the company’s bus and coach range. Within six months he became an adviser on the truck range too. In 1995 he joined the company’s sales department and then in 1997 he joined the marketing department as Exhibitions Manager. The merger of Leyland and DAF took place shortly afterwards and during that time Child’s remit covered the breadth of the whole marketing gamut. He was retained as an employee by the receivers after DAF’s financial collapse in 1992 and remained with the company after it was purchased by Paccar in 2004. Ultimately he became Sales Promotion and Advertising Manager reporting to two marketing directors – Stuart Hunt and Tony Pain respectively.
