KINGSTON, Jamaica — Brian Stevenson, project manager at ATL Automotive, has taken up a job offer in Sudan.

“I will miss many irreplaceable friends. I consider myself half Zimbabwean, half Jamaican,” said Stevenson, a Zimbabwe native who has made Jamaica his home for the last eight-and-a-half years. 

The 58-year-old Stevenson started his career as an accountant. But claiming he got bored, he moved into the automotive industry taking Toyota Zambia from a 13 per cent market share to 40 per cent. 

Steeped in the car business, Stevenson moved to London where he was eventually contracted to the Issa Transport Group in 2004.

“I came to Jamaica sight unseen. All I knew about the island then was West Indies cricket and that it was the sunshine capital of the world.”

What was initially a three-month consulting position, eventually turned into a post of managing director. In 2010, he moved to ATL Automotive also as managing director when that company took over the Audi and Volkswagen brands.

“My mandate was to do things at a global standard and make the manufacturers that we represent proud to do business with us. We started with only three people.”

From that beginning with Volkswagen and Audi, Stevenson picked up the Land Rover and Jaguar brands as well. He is now content that these brands have made significant in-roads locally in market share.

“I’m proud of the team and the focus that we’ve built up over these two years. Watching the staff improve, and driving down the road seeing your brand on the road everyday is an immense feeling.”

“Working at ATL Automotive is a pinnacle in my career. I loved my time here in Jamaica and I’ll be watching, maybe visit from time to time.”

— Rory Daley