Lightstone says the Awards, which are now in their fourth year, recognise F&I managers who embody excellence, integrity and innovation in driving dealership profitability and customer satisfaction.

Lightstone’s Lightstone Auto division owns and operates the Signio platform in South Africa, which is used by F&I Managers nationwide. It serves motor vehicle dealerships (SMEs and dealer groups), banks, insurance companies, Value-Added Product (VAP) applications and other automotive industry participants.

The Star Reacher Awards picked the top professionals for outstanding annual performance across five key focus areas: customer engagement, compliance, digital adoption, and value creation. Signio is an innovative electronic workflow and signature solution that securely automates the vehicle finance and insurance process.

Widely adopted across South Africa

Every quarter, winners in each category are awarded for their achievements, which culminates in an annual awards ceremony where performance over a 12-month period is recognised. All category winners were awarded a luxury trip for themselves and their partners to the tropical island of Mauritius, valued at R40 000 each. Runners-up each received shopping vouchers worth R10 000.

This Awards programme is a completely data-driven recognition platform for F&I professionals in the industry. The Star Reacher Awards are based on measurable performance indicators such as the number of value-added products and services’ (VAPs) leads referred, completed finance applications and Know-Your-Customer (KYC) checks.

F&I managers are also evaluated in categories that match their dealerships’ sales volume, ensuring a level playing field where even those at smaller dealerships have a fair chance to excel.

The competition delivered impressive results, far surpassing expectations in both performance and impact. Beyond its success, it has also driven significant progress, benefiting both the talented participants and the dealerships that support them. The data highlights this achievement, with a 27% increase in VAP ratios, a 16.2% rise in insurance leads, and a remarkable 56% surge in KYC usage.

The Star Reacher Awards continue to set the standard for recognising ethical leadership, digital integration and customer-focused service in F&I. The event was a morning of celebration, reflection and inspiration for the future of the industry.

Paul Marshall, Managing Director at Lightstone Auto, applauded the winners for their dedication and professionalism saying: “F&I professionals are the unsung heroes of dealership profitability and customer trust. Lightstone Auto takes great pride in supporting and celebrating those who go above and beyond to serve both customers and their dealerships. This year’s winners embody the future of a sustainable and thriving auto industry. They have demonstrated resilience, adaptability and confidence in the face of change – emerging even stronger as a result.”

Since launching Star Reacher, Lightstone has intentionally kept the event small, intimate and personal—fostering authentic connections and a focused experience. The goal is to grow the event into a nationally recognised industry event over the next year, while preserving the unique spirit that has defined it from the beginning.

2025 Winners:

• Winners per category:

• Runners-up per category:

• Special recognition was given to repeat winners who have excelled year after year: