Meet our Executive Management Team
Manfred Streit
Managing Director
Manfred joined Scania Australia after 15 years working for the company in Austria, initially as a Dealer Director and latterly as the Country Manager. Prior to that he worked for Renault and Alcatel.
“Scania in Australia has a very solid base – thanks to 12 years of growth – and has a very experienced executive management team. We will work together to develop further innovations and services for the benefit of our customers,” he says.
Benjamin Nye
Director of Truck Sales
Benjamin Nye joined Scania in 2010 as a Retail Account Manager with substantial truck industry experience.
His successes earned him a Scania’s Truck Salesman of the Year award. After a spell as National Fleet Manager for fire and specialist vehicles, he became Product Manager for Scania trucks, before taking over the role of Sales Director, Trucks.
Ben is passionate about trucks, cars and engines, and his product knowledge is matched only by his enthusiasm for all things Scania.
Julian Gurney
Director of Sales Bus & Power Solutions
Julian has been instrumental in growing the Bus and Engine division. His most recent appointment with Scania was in 2012 where he commenced as the National Manager, Retail Bus Sales. In 2018 Julian was appointed as the Director of Bus and Power Solutions.
Julian is passionate about overseeing Scania Australia’s transition to Zero Emission Public Transport and the reduction of the CO2 footprint for the benefit of future generations.
Patrik Tharna
Director of Aftersales
Patrik joined Scania Australia in 2019 as the Director of Aftersales. Patrik joined from Scania’s head office in Sweden where he served as the Global Sales Director of Parts and Service. Other roles include Scania China Pre Sales Director and Trucks Global Product Management.
Patrik is passionate about people, the Scania Way and our core values. It’s become part of who I am.
Sean Corby
Dealer Director
VIC, NSW, TAS
Sean joined Scania Australia in 2012, originally from the UK he has worked for Scania Sweden and South Africa. In Australia, he commenced as the National Services and Sales Manager, and as the National Aftersales Manager and in 2019 was appointed Regional Executive Manager
Sean is passionate about empowering teams so they can deliver excellent levels of customer service and in turn generate good results for Scania.
Michael Berti
Dealer Director
WA, SA, NT
Michael commenced with Scania Australia in 2015 as Regional Executive Manager – Western Australia following a successful career in the automotive aftermarket. During 2021 South Australia /Northern Territory and Queensland were added to his responsibilities.
Michael’s passion is supporting the development of our team and securing new talent – then letting them get on and get things done.
Hanna Johansson
Director of Business Support
Hanna commenced her career at Scania in Sweden as a vehicle ergonomist, and as the for the modularisation division of Research and Development. Before joining Scania Australia as Business Support Director in 2019 Hanna was working with Scania India as the Business Support Director.
Justin Newman
Director of People & Culture
Justin Newman joined Scania Australia and New Zealand as People and Culture Director in 2022, bringing extensive experience from a variety of industries.
Justin has a strategic and commercial approach to the P&C role and has been part of many largescale organizational changes, enterprise agreement negotiations, as well as most recently working on talent attraction and retention strategies in a tight talent market.
As Director of P&C at Scania Justin is responsible for recruitment and retention, as well as overseeing training, SHE and facilities management across the Scania network for Australia and New Zealand.
Sumith Vellaikal
Chief Financial Officer
Sumith Vellaikal joined Scania Australia in 2013 from Scania in South Africa via Scania Sweden, where he had worked in Business Control. He joined Scania Australia as the Business Control Manager in 2013 and was confirmed as Scania Australia’s Chief Financial Officer in 2021.
Sumith’s motto is to work smarter, not harder.
Wayne Thomason
Country Manager at Scania Finance
Wayne joined Scania in 2019 as National Sales Manager for Scania Finance, in 2020 was appointed Country Manager of Scania Finance Australia and New Zealand. Wayne joined Scania with more than 40 years’ experience within the Banking and Finance industry.
Wayne is passionate about being a leader in Transport Finance, delivering for customers and developing solutions in emerging sectors like Battery Electric Vehicles and Electrification.
