Former Toyota Australia Boss to Head Holden

General Motors Co.’s Holden unit in Australia has appointed Dave Buttner as its new managing director and chairman.

Buttner most recently was president of Toyota Australia from 2014 to 2017. He also held senior roles in manufacturing, sales and marketing, corporate affairs and product planning and development. Prior to joining Toyota, Buttner spent 10 years at Ford’s Australian operations.

At Holden, Buttner is tasked with jumpstarting the brand’s sales. The company, which slipped from being number two in sales to sixth place in Australia in recent years, has seen a more than 20% decline in sales through the first half of 2018.

Buttner succeeds Mark Bernhard, who retired at the end of July. Bernhard had helmed Holden since July 2015, steering the company as it closed manufacturing operations last year and transitioned into being an importer.

Buttner previously was vice president and chief financial officer of Shanghai GM in China and chief financial officer of GM China. Bernhard also spent time at GM’s operations in the U.S. and Europe.