ANDRE BONTHUYS Driving DOMASCO Into the future
- 2 hours ago
- 8 min read
A seasoned Senior Executive with a proven record of accelerating revenue and profit growth, building high‑performance teams, driving cultural and operational transformation, and delivering efficiencies in complex, fast‑evolving markets.
I bring extensive global leadership experience across Sales, Marketing, Customer Experience, and end‑to‑end Delivery organizations. My background includes full P&L ownership and Managing Director–level responsibility spanning strategy, commercial operations, and both qualitative and quantitative service delivery.
I have led geographically dispersed sales and after‑sales organizations, enabled by 28 years of deep Automotive experience across OEM, Importer, and Retail environments. My portfolio includes leadership roles with luxury brands such as BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Volvo, and Lucid BEV, as well as volume brands including Honda, Ford, Mazda, Nissan, Renault, and Suzuki.
My motorcycle experience extends to BMW Motorrad, Honda, and Yamaha.
You joined DOMASCO as Managing Director less than a year ago. How would you describe your first months in the role, and what immediately stood out to you about the business?
Joining DOMASCO has been an exciting chapter for me. From day one, I was struck by the energy of the team and the genuine commitment to our customers across Qatar. The business is complex, fast‑moving, and full of potential — and that’s exactly what drew me in.
My first months were about listening, connecting, and understanding how things really work on the ground. What stood out immediately was the pride people take in their work and the strong foundation already in place.
As a leader, I’ve focused on clarity, trust, and empowering teams to move decisively. I believe in being present, being honest, and building momentum together.
It’s been a short time, but it already feels like home — and I’m excited about what we can achieve as one DOMASCO team.
DOMASCO operates across cars, motorcycles, watches and electronics. How do you personally see the company today within Qatar’s broader mobility and retail landscape?
When I look at DOMASCO today, I see a truly diversified and established player in Qatar’s mobility and retail landscape. Few companies can operate confidently across cars, motorcycles, watches, and electronics — and do so with the heritage and credibility that DOMASCO has built over the years.
What stands out to me is how these categories complement each other. Whether it’s mobility, lifestyle, or everyday technology, we are part of moments that matter to customers. Our breadth gives us resilience, but it also gives us a unique responsibility: to deliver consistently high standards across every touchpoint.
From my perspective, DOMASCO is not just a collection of brands — it’s a trusted presence in the daily lives of people in Qatar. That’s a strong foundation, and one we can continue to build on with focus and pride.
As you step into this role, what are your main strategic priorities for driving DOMASCO’s next phase of growth?
As I look ahead at DOMASCO’s next phase of growth, my priorities are clear and grounded in where the business is today and where it needs to go. First, we need sharper execution: tighter financial control, stronger forecasting discipline, and full visibility of performance so we can respond to challenges early and decisively. This is essential for building a stable platform for growth.
Second, I’m focused on strengthening our commercial engine — elevating customer experience, improving our retail mix, and ensuring every brand within our portfolio performs to its full potential. With cars, motorcycles, watches, and electronics under one umbrella, DOMASCO has a unique footprint in Qatar, and we need to maximize the value of that breadth.
Finally, my vision is to create a more empowered, collaborative organization where cross‑functional alignment becomes a real competitive advantage. When we are coordinated, data‑driven, and united behind a clear direction, we move faster — and we win.
DOMASCO has all the ingredients needed for sustainable growth. My role now is to bring focus, pace, and accountability so we can turn that potential into results.
The automotive market is evolving rapidly, with a strong influx of new brands, particularly from China. From your perspective, what truly differentiates an established player from a new market entrant?
The influx of new brands, especially from China, has made the automotive market more dynamic than ever. But in times of rapid change, the fundamentals matter even more. What truly sets an established player apart is not just a product, it’s trust built over years, sometimes decades. Customers know what they’re getting: consistent quality, proven reliability, and an after-sales ecosystem that actually delivers when it counts.
New entrants can create excitement, but established brands offer reassurance. They have parts, technicians, processes, and a track record you can measure. In a market like Qatar — where expectations are high and downtime isn’t tolerated — that depth of experience becomes a real competitive edge.
At the end of the day, anyone can launch a car. Only a few can stand behind it for the long run.
If we take GAC as an example, how has long-term presence in Qatar translated into customer trust and brand credibility today?
GAC has been in Qatar for almost a decade, and that longevity makes a real difference. In a market filled with new entrants, customers place huge value on brands that have proven themselves over time. GAC has done exactly that — not just by delivering reliable vehicles, but by backing them with a solid after-sales network, consistent parts availability, and service standards people can trust.
This long-term presence has allowed GAC to earn credibility the right way: through experience, not promises. Today, GAC stands as one of the few Chinese brands that has moved beyond the “newcomer” perception and firmly established itself as a dependable, well-supported choice in Qatar. The GS8 Traveler is a perfect example — a model that showcases how far the brand has come, and why customers now see GAC as a proven, established player in the market.
How is DOMASCO building on this foundation as the GAC portfolio evolves, particularly with new technologies and recent model launches?
DOMASCO is taking GAC into its next growth chapter with a clear, future‑focused product strategy. The GS4 Max anchors our ambitious expansion plans, giving us a practical, tech‑forward SUV that strengthens our presence in the high‑volume mid‑segment. At the same time, we are accelerating into Plug in Hybrid mobility with the S7 — our key EV/PHEV entry point — positioning GAC as one of the most accessible and compelling pathways into new-energy vehicles in Qatar.
And at the top of the range, the GS8 Traveler continues to elevate the brand, showcasing the quality, capability, and sophistication that customers now expect from GAC. Together, these launches signal a brand that is not only evolving but leading — backed by DOMASCO’s commitment to technology, reliability, and long-term customer support.
Volvo has been part of the Qatari market for over four decades. How does heritage strengthen a premium brand, and how does this reflect in your local strategy today?
Volvo’s more than 40‑year presence in Qatar is one of its greatest strengths. Heritage matters in the premium segment, and Volvo has earned its position through decades of safety leadership, Scandinavian design, and a reputation for reliability that customers genuinely trust. This long-standing history gives the brand something new entrants cannot replicate credibility built through consistency.
For us at DOMASCO, being the custodian of Volvo in Qatar for over four decades means carrying that legacy forward with care and purpose. It shapes our local strategy every day — from elevating the customer experience to ensuring our after-sales standards reflect the premium promise the brand is known for. Whether it is the XC60 or the latest electrified models, we’re focused on delivering an ownership experience that feels refined, reliable, and unmistakably Volvo.
Heritage is not just a story—it’s a competitive advantage. And in a market that values trust as much as innovation, that legacy continues to set Volvo apart.
Looking ahead, Volvo is entering an important global phase. How does this translate into your product focus for the year?
Volvo is entering one of its most important global phases, and our product focus in Qatar reflects that step‑change. This year is all about the new 90 Series — with the ES90, XC90 and fully electric EX90 arriving as the next generation of Volvo’s premium identity. These models set the tone for where the brand is heading bigger leaps in electrification, smarter safety technology, and a more elevated driving experience across the board.
We’re also preparing for the EX60 — which will redefine the heart of the premium SUV segment. It’s a major milestone for the brand, and for DOMASCO, as we continue strengthening our EV offering and preparing customers for Volvo’s fully electric future.
Our strategy is simple: lead with electrification, double down on safety innovation, and bring the next wave of Volvo’s premium lineup — from the XC60 to the all‑new 90 Series — to customers in a way that feels modern, intuitive, and unmistakably Volvo.
Honda is globally recognized for reliability and long-term ownership. How does this reputation shape your approach to customers and community in Qatar?
Honda’s reputation for reliability and long‑term ownership is more than a product trait — it’s the backbone of how we show up for customers in Qatar. When people buy a Honda, they’re not buying a car for a season, they buy a car for life. That shapes everything we do.
We focus heavily on loyalty because Honda owners stay with the brand for years. Our job is to reward that trust — through transparent service, smooth upgrade paths, and a community‑driven experience that feels personal, not transactional. And for women and families, reliability isn’t a feature, it’s peace of mind.
That is why we have built tailored touchpoints: female consultants, women‑focused showroom spaces, hassle‑free test drives, and communication that speaks to safety, ease, and confidence behind the wheel.
The Honda Pilot brings all of this to life — a spacious, dependable, family‑first SUV that delivers what Qatar’s drivers value most: safety, comfort, and long‑term value. It’s exactly what a “buy‑for‑life” brand should feel like: trusted, effortless, and built to stay with you for the journey.
Motorcycles create a very different emotional connection. How do Honda Motorcycles and their community fit into DOMASCO’s broader portfolio?
Motorcycles bring an emotion that no other product in our portfolio can match — and that’s exactly why Honda Motorcycles play such an important role at DOMASCO. They attract a different kind of customer: passionate, loyal, community‑driven. And we lean into that.
Honda’s lineup lets us speak to riders with very different needs and identities. We have the Gold Wing for touring lovers and collectors — a true icon now celebrated through milestone events that bring together Qatar’s VIP biker community.
For daily life in the city, Honda’s street and commuter models deliver practicality, ease, and reliability. And then there’s the Africa Twin — our off‑road hero and the centerpiece of our adventure segment, showcased at high‑energy motorcycle events like the Batabit Show, where we engage thousands of riders and enthusiasts across Qatar.
This community isn’t passive — they interact, ride together, show up for events, and love being part of a brand that respects rider culture. For us, Honda Motorcycles are much more than a product line. They’re a bridge into a vibrant, growing segment in Qatar, and they strengthen DOMASCO’s portfolio with emotion, energy, and a loyal rider base that keeps coming back.
When you look at the diversity of DOMASCO’s portfolio, what common values unite all these brands under one group?
When you stand back and look at the full DOMASCO portfolio — from the power of Honda and the heritage of Volvo, to the momentum of GAC and the lifestyle worlds of watches and electronics — you see something bigger than a collection of brands. You see a story about trust. A story about quality. A story about being part of people’s lives for the long journey, not just the next transaction.
For decades, DOMASCO has earned its place in Qatar by showing up consistently, by choosing brands that last, and by serving customers with a level of care that feels personal. It’s why families come back to us generation after generation, why riders gather under the Honda flag, and why premium customers look to Volvo with confidence. Across every category, the common thread is the same: we stand behind what we sell, and we stand beside the people who choose us.
What unites our brands isn’t their product type — it’s the values they carry.Trust, built through honest relationships.Quality, reflected in every touchpoint.Longevity, not just in products, but in the bonds we build.Customer‑centricity, the belief that every person who walks through our doors deserves to be heard, supported, and remembered.
Together, these values create the DOMASCO experience — one built on heritage, strengthened by diversity, and kept alive by a simple promise: whatever you choose from us, it will be something on which you can rely.
