Human touch wins big in Ford DOTY

It all started sixty years ago when Bloemfontein businessman, Barnie Human, founded the Human Auto Group.

Neale Hill, CEO of Ford SA and sub-Saharan Africa; Pierre Beukes (Dealer Principal at Human Auto Welkom) and Conrad Groenewald (Director Marketing, Sales & Services, Ford SA).
Neale Hill, CEO of Ford SA and sub-Saharan Africa, presenting the trophy to Human Auto Welkom’s, Kattie Griesel. To the right is Pieter Verster (National Service Engineering Operations Manager, Ford SA) and Johnny Segaar (General Manager After Sales & Marketing, Ford SA)
Neale Hill, CEO of Ford SA and sub-Saharan Africa, presenting the trophy to Human Auto Welkom’s, Kattie Griesel. To the right is Pieter Verster (National Service Engineering Operations Manager, Ford SA) and Johnny Segaar (General Manager After Sales & Marketing, Ford SA)


His main goal was to provide customers with an excellent product and superior services. Till today, his Ford dealerships in Bloemfontein, Welkom, Kimberley and Ficksburg carry this motto as is evident from the rewards reaped at annual Ford Awards for 2019.

Not only did Human Auto receive the award for the Best Ford Group in the Blue Oval stable, but Human Auto Welkom scooped up a couple of individual awards as well.

Human Auto Welkom’s Workshop Manager, Kattie Griesel, is the winner in the categories for “Fixed It Right First Time” and for Customer Satisfaction, while he also received the runner-up award for Best Workshop Manager. Kattie has been with Human Auto Welkom for the past 13 years and previously at Mercedes-Benz.

Neale Hill, CEO of Ford SA and sub-Saharan Africa, with F&I runner-up from Human Auto Welkom, Elsabé Janse van Vuuren, and Kerry Henderson, CEO of Ford Credit.
Neale Hill, CEO of Ford SA and sub-Saharan Africa, with F&I runner-up from Human Auto Welkom, Elsabé Janse van Vuuren, and Kerry Henderson, CEO of Ford Credit.

Another winner from Human Auto Welkom is Elsabé Janse van Vuuren, who was runner-up in the category for Best F&I. She has been with the group for the past 15 years.

Human Auto Welkom also received the runner-up award for the Best Dealer in recognition for Retail Excellence Performance in 2019. The awards were accepted by the dealer principal of Human Auto Welkom, Pierre Beukes, who have been with the company for 21 years.

“I am very proud of our team and everyone’s performance, also our colleagues at the other Human Auto branches,” Pierre told Dealerfloor.

The team behind the hard work. Members of different Human Auto dealerships at the award ceremony. Front, left to right: Okkie Louw (Workshop Manager, Bloemfontein), Nicolette Engelbecht (F&I, Bloemfontein), Hein Vermeulen (Workshop Manager, Kimberley) and Human Auto Welkom winner, Elsabé Janse van Vuuren (F&I, Welkom). Back, left to right: Ester Buthelezi (Regional Sales Manager, Ford SA), Pierre Beukes (Dealer Principal, Welkom), Theuns Pieterse (Sales Manager, Bloemfontein), Ludwig van Staden ( F&I, Bloemfontein), Des Williams (Dealer Principal, Bloemfontein), Gerhard Grové (Parts Manager, Bloemfontein), Kattie Griesel (Workshop Manager, Welkom, category winner and runner-up), Pine Pienaar (Group Manager, Human Auto), Pierre Visser (Parts Manager, Welkom) and Jean de Klerk (Parts Manager, Kimberley).

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