New Zealand Leadership
Stephen Lester
Chief Executive Officer CAA AU & NZ
Stephen Lester joined Cox Automotive as Chief Executive...
Rob Woods
General Manager – New Zealand
Rob, an experienced heavy transport professional...
Stephen Lester
Chief Executive Officer CAA AU & NZ
Stephen Lester joined Cox Automotive as Chief Executive Officer for Australia and New Zealand in November 2022. A credible and proven leader, Stephen has extensive international automotive experience gained in Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. His sound understanding of the automotive ecosystems is derived from over 20 years with OEMs BMW, Nissan, and Stellantis. Stephen compliments this exposure with a comprehensive business understanding having held a wide variety of roles in marketing, advertising, sales operations, regional management, marketing and Managing Director. Passionate about transforming the automotive industry with tailored, digitally enabled experiences, Stephen is adept at working closely with customers to genuinely understand their challenges and develop sustainable, profitable solutions.
Rob Woods
General Manager – New Zealand
Rob, an experienced heavy transport professional, joined Manheim in 2025. An accomplished executive with a strong track record in the automotive sector, he specialises in Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), strategic retail business development, and leadership of high-performing teams. Rob is responsible for leading and overseeing all aspects of the New Zealand operations, including sales, operations, and customer relationships. We look forward to him bringing his experience to Manheim, collaborating with our talented team, and driving the growth of our business.