BYD ANZ appoints Mark Harland as Denza chief operating officer

BYD Australia and New Zealand has announced the appointment of Mark Harland as chief operating officer of Denza, effective immediately.

This signifies the first official leadership appointment for Denza which is BYD’s premium automotive brand. 

After founding Denza in 2010, BYD took full control of development and operations in 2024.

Harland joins from EVDirect, where he served as chief operating officer at BYD’s exclusive distributor up until July 2025. In this role, he was instrumental in BYD’s rapid growth, delivering more than 60,000 new Australian owners in two and a half years.

With more than 25 years of global experience, Harland brings deep expertise in the automotive industry. During his tenure at General Motors, he led marketing, customer experience, sales, and operations across key regions including North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Australia.

He is also deeply passionate about electrification. At energy provider AGL, he co-piloted an initiative to launch its early-stage EV subscription program.

His strategic insight and operational leadership will be instrumental as BYD prepares to launch what is expected to be one of the industry’s most exciting new entrants.

Following the appointment of Stephen Collins as BYD chief operating officer last month, Harland will take on another key leadership role in the business. His extensive knowledge of OEM operations and dealer networks will be crucial in driving the success of Denza in Australia and New Zealand.

“I’m excited to continue my BYD journey with Denza. We’ve kept details under wraps, but this brand promises to build on the incredible success of BYD with a premium offering for customers,” Harland says.

“There has already been an incredible amount of interest in Denza, which will redefine luxury in Australia by delivering cutting-edge innovation and world-leading craftsmanship at an exceptional price point.”

“Mark has been a solid and important part of BYD’s success in Australia through EVDirect. His experience will be critical in shaping the next phase of BYD’s future in this market,” said BYD Australia General Manager, Wing You.