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Jasper Hafkamp (left) and Kobus van Zyl, looking forward to their new jobs

Mercedes-Benz: Hafkamp heads Regional Centre as Van Zyl moves to Saudi Arabia

Jasper Hafkamp has been appointed as the new Executive Director for the Mercedes-Benz Regional Centre Southern Africa (RCSA). Hafkamp, who will be responsible for Daimler Trucks & Buses (DT&B) in Southern Africa, is to resume duties on December 1.

His appointment came as the current Executive Director for DT&B (and the Vice-Chairman of the Heavy Commercial Vehicle Division and Bus Forum for the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa), Kobus van Zyl, moves over to Saudi as the General Manager for National Automotive Industries in Saudi Arabia, a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz Trucks and E.A. Juffali & Brothers. His appointment takes effect from October 1.

Hafkamp, no doubt, will be bringing a wealth of experience gained over the years to his new job in Mercedes- Benz South Africa (MBSA). He joined Mercedes-Benz Nederland BV in 1995 after completing his studies in Business Engineering at the College of Technology and Management and Organisation at the University of Groningen. He started within the commercial vehicle department where he held various positions within Marketing and Product Management for Mercedes-Benz Vans and Trucks.

In 2008, Hafkamp became responsible for Mercedes-Benz Truck Sales in The Netherlands and then progressed to the position of Managing Director: Mercedes-Benz Trucks. During this period he was able to grow the market share of Trucks in the Netherlands from 10 percent in 2010 to the current sustainable 17 percent. This success was based on a structured conquest programme, Total Cost of Ownership approach and a further professionalisation of the Dutch Truck dealer network. Furthermore, he integrated Fuso Trucks sales within the Mercedes-Benz Trucks organisation.

Van Zyl, who is pursuing a new and exciting career opportunity and assignment within the larger global Daimler organisation, will be responsible for Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Vans, Buses and Special Trucks as well as Western Star and Freightliner Trucks in Saudi Arabia as the Juffali Group is the Mercedes-Benz appointed General Distributor for that country .

Van Zyl has been a valuable member of the MBSA team in various roles for the last 17 years. He joined Daimler in April 1999, having worked as a portfolio manager and financial analyst for various other companies before. He first joined the Financial Services operations and then moved to Sales and Marketing. He has been leading the commercial vehicles operations from a sales and marketing perspective since 2008.

Reacting to the appointments, Arno van der Merwe, CEO of Mercedes-Benz South Africa and Executive Director, Manufacturing, said in a statement obtained by AUTO REPORT AFRICA : “We wish Kobus well in all his future endeavours. We are confident the Juffali Group is gaining a valuable member to their team and we look forward to welcoming Jasper to the management team of MBSA.”

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