Motor Coach Industries (MCI) has announced that Patrick Laffan has joined MCI as vice president new coach sales for the Northeast region in the U.S. Laffan is succeeding Darril King, who will retire from MCI on May 1 after a 52-year career in the industry.
Laffan will continue to build MCI’s strong presence in New York State and New England, representing the best-selling MCI J4500 and D-Series along with Daimler-built Setra models. He will also work in tandem with MCI’s Technical Solutions Manager, providing MCI training opportunities and service expertise to private sector operators in the region. Laffan reports to Pat Ziska, vice president of new coach sales for the private sector.
“We’re pleased to have Pat join what we consider to be the best, customer-focused sales team in the industry,” said Ziska. “We like his experience, skill set and knack for developing solid industry relationships, an ability highly valued at MCI.”
Formerly commercial vehicle sales manager at DATTCO, Inc., Laffan has been in bus and motor coach sales and account management for more than 13 years. DATTCO is a New England operator that also supplies vehicles (pre-owned coaches and new cut-aways and transit buses) and offers repair services. While at DATTCO for a combined total of 10-years, Laffan was responsible for bus sales and leasing as well as building and maintaining relationships with customers. He started his career in DATTCO’s body shop and then sold collision-repair services.
“MCI is a solid, well-established industry leader, and now with New Flyer ownership I see exciting opportunities ahead for customers and the industry,” said Laffan. “I have some big shoes to fill to continue what Darril has put in place. I look forward to being very present for our customers, getting out to new prospects and introducing MCI products. I value customer service. I am going to be visible, accessible and involved to see that those I serve prosper.”
Laffan holds a BA from the University of Hartford, Hartford, Conn., earned on nights and weekends while working full-time. He will be based in southern Connecticut, where he, his wife and their two young sons reside.
King began his Detroit Diesel career after high school, working assembly on the midnight shift. Following a tour in Vietnam in 1967 and 1968, King rejoined Detroit Diesel and later was tapped as a customer service representative. He was assigned to the New England area in 1992 and retired from Detroit Diesel in 2001. He joined Setra a year later and MCI in 2014. MCI has been the distributor of Setra coaches and parts in the U.S. and Canada since 2012.
“We will miss Darril’s contributions, and we know many of his customers feel the same,” said Ziska. “To be successful in our industry, you have to give 120 percent 24/7, and Darril gave it his all. Everyone at MCI wishes him well, with time to enjoy his Harley, his many friends and family members in New England.”
