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Moving on to pastures new
Page 69
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After three decades at John R Weir, Russell Duthie is stepping down. Kevin Swallow reports.
Russell Duthie turned 60 last weekend and is stepping down after 27 years as dealer principal for Aberdeenbased Mercedes-Benz franchise John R Weir Commercials — allowing Andy Learmonth to take the reigns.
"I'll be doing a bit of dealing and consultancy. and looking after John R Weir's biggest customer," Duthie says. During his 34 years based in Aberdeen he has seen several owners, including original franchisee, the family-run JGB Commercial.The current owner is privately owned car dealer John R Weir which bought the business in 1998.
"The biggest leap was the move to electronic technology," Duthie recalls,"These days you need to plugit in tofix it. Initially I didn't like it; I thought it went too far.
"But it was the right way to go; the facelifted MP2 arrived and didn't have any problems. It was the same for vans; the TI was bomb-proof.
"The reliability of the current technology is second to none. This was underlined at the Motor Transport Awards [the Sprinter and Axor won Fleet Van and Fleet Truck of the Year respective]y]. It shows the customers are responding," he says.
Learmonth moves from Cicely Commercials in Blackburn and joins Norrie Rae, sales manager. fie will cover a territory "the size of Belgium", says Duthie —north of Dundee. "I'll he taking a holiday to France and unwinding." •