Al-Futtaim Motors appoints new Toyota Head of Marketing

United Arab Emirates, Dubai 14 July 2014: Patrick Fourniol has assumed duties as Head of Marketing for Toyota at Al-Futtaim Motors, the exclusive distributor of Toyota in the UAE.

Fourniol, who holds a dual Franco-German citizenship, is a veteran automotive marketer, with a rich industry experience that spans many markets and a proven track record in building brand equity for some of the world’s most iconic car brands such as Toyota, Renault, Volkswagen and more.

A self-confessed petrol head and passionate marketer, Fourniol is accustomed to living and working in multinational environments, and is particularly interested in emerging markets.

He joins Al-Futtaim Motors from Renault Germany, where he was Marketing Director for Renault since 2011. Prior to that, he had served Renault from the position of VP Marketing Communications Worldwide.

Earlier, he led the communications activities of Volkswagen being the General Manager of Volkswagen Marketing Communication in France.
He is no stranger to Toyota, which he served for four years at Toyota Marketing Europe (TMME) as Regional Senior Manager Toyota Sales Operations.

Fourniol’s affinity with Toyota in addition to Al-Futtaim Motors’ size and his admiration of the UAE’s achievements were the three compelling reasons that led him to the Arabian shores. 

“Toyota is a brand and company I know quite well and love working for, and is certainly the leading brand in the automotive world. I was impressed with Al-Futtaim Motors for both the size of its operation and its clear and ambitious vision” he said.

“Toyota, Al-Futtaim group and the UAE as a country represent a promising platform for growth. Contributing to their further success is very exciting and rewarding for a passionate marketer like me. “

Fourniol is an MBA graduate from leading French “Grande Ecole” business school, ESSEC. His career has allowed him to combine a keen interest in cars, design and advanced technology with a passion for brand management.