The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) has announced its executive for 2011: David Powels, Managing Director of Volkswagen SA has been re-elected President for a third term; Bodo Donauer, Managing Director of BMW SA, has been re-elected First Vice President and Mike Whitfield, Managing Director of Nissan SA, continues as Second Vice-President, while Dr Johan van Zyl, President and CEO of Toyota SA remains NAAMSA’s Immediate Past President.
Pierre Terblanche, the famed SA-born motorcycle designer has joined Norton in Britain as head of its product development and design department. Terblanche, the former head designer for Ducati, is credited with designing such models as the ill-fated Supermono, Supersport, Hypermotard, the 999 and the original Multistrada. He left Ducati in 2007 and did a stint in designing boats before heading to Piaggio to work alongside former Ducati colleague, Miguel Angel Galluzzi. His recent designs include the 2009 Moto Guzzi V12 concept.
Greg Levine is another South African going places in the global automotive world. Levine, who headed up Audi SA for five years before moving to the UK where he headed up the Audi operation in that country. He has now been appointed sales and marketing director for sports car manufacturer McLaren, which will launch its MP4-12C supercar later this year.
Meg Houghton has joined SA Show Services in Johannesburg as Conference and Events Manager after a 33-year career in public relations and sponsorships at Castrol SA. SA Show Services has contracts to organize the Johannesburg International Motor Show, Automechanika SA and the Rand Show.
Martin Kruger, the founder of Response Group Trendline (RGT), passed away in January following an accident at his home in Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth. RGT has been NAAMSA’s new vehicle data service providers and administrators over the past 25 years and, during this time, Martin Kruger built up an outstanding track record in terms of quality of service and cost effectiveness. Following the public listing of RGT Smart, he reduced his involvement in the day to day activities of the organisation and had recently retired.