Western Star prepares for new GM

Kelley Platt will be taking over as gm for Western Star Truck Sales, Inc. – a division of Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) – starting April 1 following the retirement of the OEM’s current gm, Michael Jackson, on March 31.

Sean Kilcarr

Feb. 3, 2015

2 min read

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Jackson (at right) joined DTNA in 2005 as the gm-marketing and controlling before taking over as gm of Western Star in 2009.

His replacement Platt joined DTNA in 1989 as Freightliner’s manager of treasury services and played a crucial role in the company’s acquisition of both Western Star and Thomas Built Buses (TBB), where she most recently served as President and CEO.

“The Western Star is a brand on the rise, and that is a tribute to the people who have dedicated themselves to providing a superior truck to our customers,” noted Jackson in a statement.

“I take great pride in being a part of Western Star’s success [and] I am pleased to retire and leave the Western Star brand in the capable hands of my successor Kelley Platt,” he added.

The company noted that Platt (below) will be relocating to Portland, OR, where s

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he will oversee Western Star’s initiatives from DTNA’s corporate headquarters there.

“I am excited by the opportunity to lead Western Star and look forward to exceeding each and every customer’s expectations,” she said in a statement.

“The Western Star team is passionate about everything they do and it is my pledge to continue to inspire them to deliver the industry's most innovative, tough-as-nails trucks,” she added.

About the Author

Sean Kilcarr

Editor in Chief

Sean Kilcarr is a former longtime FleetOwner senior editor who wrote for the publication from 2000 to 2018. He served as editor-in-chief from 2017 to 2018.