Sterling-Western Star Canada names new GM

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Brent Hart as been selected to succeed John Nelligan as regional vice-president and general manager for Sterling and Western Star’s Canadian division.

Hart comes to Canada after previously working at the company’s Redford, Mich. head office.

While some key details are still being ironed out, Hart told TodaysTrucking.com that he “looks forward to increasing market share and building on the strengths the two brands have enjoyed over the last few years in Canada.”

Hart takes over for John Nelligan, who resigned in September to become dealer principal and general manager of Harper Ontario Truck Centres Inc. Nelligan is partner in Harper Ontario’s two dealerships — a new dual Sterling/Western Star facility in Oshawa, Ont. and the Ontario Sterling dealership in Mississauga, which was recently acquired by Harper Ontario Truck Centres from Toromont Industries Ltd.

Nelligan took over for his father, John Sr., at Western Star Canada eight years ago, and five years later was named to oversee Canadian operations of Sterling when parent company Freightliner LLC acquired Western Star and merged the two Canadian offices.

Sterling is one of a handful of truck OEMs that builds trucks in Canada. The St. Thomas, Ont. facility — originally constructed in 1991 to build Freightliner-brand trucks before Freightliner bought the Sterling brand in 1997 from Ford — currently employs 2,100 people.