Jacques Brent takes over the position of managing director of Volvo Car South Africa on Wednesday. Brent is replacing Deesch Papke who will, in turn, head Volvo’s operations in Russia from August.
Jacques Brent takes over the position of managing director of Volvo Car South Africa’s on Wednesday. Brent is replacing Deesch Papke who will, in turn, head Volvo’s operations in Russia from August.
The former financial director of Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa’s Premier Automotive Group (PAG) joined the South African Motor Corporation, which later became FMCSA, as a pricing analyst in 1995.
Brent matriculated at the Glen High School in Pretoria in 1987, briefly left the motor industry for two years, and returned as finance director of Land Rover South Africa in 2000, before being promoted to finance director of PAG in January 2002.
“I am extremely excited about the prospect of leading Volvo and its dealer network into the future. With an array of new products as well as customer-driven services, the Volvo brand is eagerly poised to tap its huge potential in our local market,” he said.
Brent and his wife, Tracy, have two children – Tamryn (6) and Nicola (3).
Papke (41) has been the managing director of Volvo Car SA since 2001. From August, the Pretoria Boys’ High Old Boy will head Volvo Car’s business in Moscow.
Since Papke joined the Volvo stable on April 1 1999, Volvo dealerships have increased from 15 to 25, and the company’s sales volumes have risen from 2 100 units in 1999 to 4 300 vehicles retailed last year, a spokesman for Volvo Car South Africa said.
Papke, who has worked in the South African motor industry for his entire career, and his wife ,Vivienne, will settle in Moscow with their children, Thomas (6) and Claudia (3).
Volvo Car South Africa is to launch the Volvo XC90 later this month. It will be followed in the final quarter of the year by the S60 R all-wheel drive sports sedan.
