Kobus van Zyl
Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) will, on December 1, welcome Jasper Hafkamp as its new Regional Centre Southern Africa (RCSA) executive director. In this position he will be responsible for Daimler Trucks & Buses (DT&B) in Southern Africa.
Hafkamp joined Mercedes-Benz Nederland in 1995 after completing his studies in Business Engineering. In 2008, he assumed responsibility for Mercedes-Benz Trucks sales in the Netherlands, progressing to the position of Mercedes-Benz Trucks MD.
During this period he grew the market share of Mercedes-Benz Trucks in the Netherlands from 10% in 2010, to the current 17%, based on a structured conquest programme, total cost of ownership approach and a further professionalisation of the Dutch dealer network.
He also integrated Fuso trucks into the Mercedes-Benz Trucks organisation.
The current executive director for DT&B in Southern Africa, Kobus van Zyl, will pursue a new assignment within the global Daimler organisation.
Van Zyl has been appointed as GM for National Automotive Industries in Saudi Arabia, which a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz Trucks and EA Juffali & Brothers.
His appointment is effective from October 1.
The Juffali Group is the Mercedes-Benz-appointed general distributor in Saudi Arabia.
Van Zyl will be responsible for Mercedes-Benz trucks, vans, buses and special trucks, as well as Western Star and Freightliner trucks.
The affable Van Zyl has been a member of the MBSA team for the last 17 years, leading the company’s commercial vehicles operations since 2008.