BIG SHAKE-UP

It is amazing to think that there has been an almost complete change in the public relations personnel working at motor companies in SA since the staging of Auto Africa in October 2006.

Toyota: Out - Roger Houghton In - Ferdi de Vos
Peugeot Out - Lee Luck In - Toni Herbst
Honda Out - Ilana Salant In - Joeline Dabrowski
Kia Out - Michaela Pazdera In - Ronel Erasmus
Renault Out - Doris Roberts In - Alysson Strever
Ford/Mazda Out - Ben Pillay In - Rella Bernardes
Nissan Out - Sorita Bezuidenhout In - Veralda Schmidt
BMW Out - Guy Kilfoil In - Benedict Maaga
Mercedes-Benz Out - Richard Sloman In - Shirle Greig
Mitsubishi Out - Bennie van Rensburg In - Edward Makwana
Hyundai Out - Elisma van Heerden In - Jaco van Loggerenberg
Jaguar Out - Annien Smith In - Palesa Mabusa
Volkswagen Out - Zibi Sonzego In - Bill Stephens (caretaker)
Subaru Out - Prevashni Ramsamy In - Clair Wright
Audi Out - Rudi Venter In - Meena Motiram

CHANGE AT THE TOP OF AUDI SA

Ryan Searle has been appointed General Manager - Audi Sales and Marketing. He replaces Greg Levine, who is moving to Audi UK as Head of Operations. Ryan, who started his career at Barloworld Automotive in retail, has subsequently held senior positions with Audi SA and Volkswagen SA, latterly being responsible for marketing communications at VWSA.

NEW PR FOR PEUGEOT

Toni Herbst, who had been with Toyota SA for almost 20 years, has taken up the position of General Manager - Public Relations at Peugeot SA. She took over from Lee Luck, who has moved to join a major motor vehicle distributorship in Oman.

PULA DIPPENAAR JOINS SA SHOW SERVICES

Pula Dippenaar, who started the Auto Africa motor show in 1996 and managed all six of the subsequent events until 2006, has been appointed as director of SA Show Services, a new company established to stage exhibitions.

Pula is currently consulting to Dogan Trading, which has obtained the licence to stage Automechanika South Africa from 2009. Pula will also be involved with the Joburg Transport Expo, which will co-locate with Automechanika SA at Expo Centre from March 18-21, 2009.

NEW PRs FOR KIA MOTORS, PORSCHE

Ronel Erasmus has been appointed PR and Communications Manager at Kia Motors South Africa.

Christo Kruger, formerly the marketing and communication manager at Chana SA, was recently named Press and Public Affairs Manager for Porsche Centre South Africa.