ANTHONY Desnoes will leave ATL Autohaus in January, having helped to build the firm from the ground into the fastest-growing automobile dealership on the island.

Desnoes joined ATL Autohaus — at that time the latest addition to the powerful ATL Group — in March 2010 as general manager, the second employee recruited to the Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart-owned company after Managing Director Brian Stevenson. Along with general manager duties, he assumed the responsibilities as brand manager for Audi after ATL Autohaus won the dealership for the prestigious motor vehicle line and another German brand Volkswagen (VW).

Under Desnoes’ leadership, in tandem with Stevenson, the company has thrived. After just 18 months, Audi became the top-selling premium luxury motor vehicle brand in Jamaica — the first time ever on the island.

“We have worked very hard to build brand awareness and many Jamaicans are now gravitating to Audi. We have managed to marry one of the top premier car brands with the most successful entrepreneur in the Caribbean and it has paid off,” said Desnoes at the time.

What’s more, ATL Autohaus posted record sales for VW in 2011 and made Jamaica the first market outside of Europe where the VW Amarok ranked first place in the mid-size pickup market.

Recognising the instrumental role Desnoes played in these developments, ATL Autohaus executives yesterday lauded the outgoing general manager and Audi brand manager for his commitment, professionalism and insight.

Stevenson said he regarded Desnoes as an “assistant managing director”, based on the instrumental role he effectively played in helping to lead the company.

“Together we started Autohaus and have gone through a lot to get Autohaus to where it is at the moment, and I think he has every right to be proud of his achievements,” said Stevenson. “He has been an excellent person to work with, very calm and level-headed. He will be sorely missed.”

ATL Autohaus Marketing Manager Judith Denton praised Desnoes for bringing a balanced approach to every aspect of the company’s operation.

“His calm, easy manner, together with his objective outlook and on-point perceptions, inevitably deliver the right answer. We will truly miss his steadying influence, candour and commitment to ATL Automotive — the staff, our customers and the brands we stand for,” she said.

Stevenson noted that Desnoes is widely regarded by everyone in the Jamaican automobile industry. Prior to joining ATL Autohaus, Desnoes was the senior after- sales manager at Motor Sales, part of the Issa Transport Group, which represented both VW and Audi from their South Camp Road office before ATL’s acquisition of the brands.