Per Gustav Nilsson, the current non-executive director and head of Ashok Leyland's international operations, will be the new chief executive officer (CEO) of Optare. He will take over from Jim Sumner, who will step down as CEO and director on December 31.
Nilsson held positions as managing director of Scania CIS, followed by four years as managing director of MAN Russia. He brings a wealth of business development and sales experience in export markets to support Optare's growth strategy.
Optare is one of the key acquisitions by Ashok Leyland to penetrate into the European market and it is one of the key drivers to support its ambition of becoming top five bus companies in the World. In 2010, Ashok Leyland acquired a 26 per cent stake for around Rs 28 crore and in 2011 it increased the stake in Optare.
