Ford South Africa president and CEO Jeff Nemeth has been recalled to the US, and is set to leave in July.
Ford announced the appointment of Casper Kruger as managing director of Ford Motor Company Sub-Saharan Africa Region, effective 1 April, 2017.
Nemeth’s recall comes after a massive Ford Kuga recall in South Africa in January. 4,556 Ford Kuga 1.6-litre models which were built between December 2012 and February 2014 were recalled for repairs following numerous reports of engine fires.
To make matters worse, the Sunday Times reported that Auto & General and Dialdirect planned to take legal action against the US auto maker following three Ford EcoSport SUVs bursting into flames.
According to a report by the Sunday Times, the insurance companies settled three claims from local EcoSport owners whose cars caught fire.The EcoSport fires took place in May and July 2016, and February 2017, stated the report.
Kruger will assume his new position when Nemeth takes on his new position at Ford as part of his planned return to the US July 1, 2017.Kruger is the outgoing vice president of Vehicle Sales and Dealer Network at Toyota South Africa, a position he held from 2014, after previously heading up Toyota’s
Hino truck division as vice president for a period of five years.Nemeth will be overseeing the transition period and will be returning to the United States with his family in June 2017 following the completion of his son’s school year in South Africa.
“I would like to thank Jeff for his exceptional commitment to developing and growing the business over the past seven years pioneering our expansion into Sub-Saharan Africa,” said Jacques Brent, president of Ford Middle East and Africa..
He noted that under Nemeth’s tenure, Ford’s market share in South Africa doubled, achieving record volumes and market share for the Ranger, as well as other key models including the EcoSport.
