Ford lynchpin finally rolls off the line

Bob Kernohan BUSINESS EDITOR kernohanb@avusa.co.za

ONE of the key members of the team that put Port Elizabeth, and later Pretoria, on the worldwide Ford Motor Company export map is retiring after 40 years’ service.

Former Pearson High School matriculant Trevor Kok – who started his career as a trainee at Ford’s former Neave plant in the Bay – retires as vice president of manufacturing and supply, which covers vehicle and engine assembly operations, product development, purchasing, total value management and quality.

Announcing Kok’s retirement yesterday, Ford Southern Africa president and chief executive Hal Feder paid tribute to his outgoing vice president.

“After 40 years of dedicated and invaluable service, Trevor has decided to retire from a full-time role,” said Feder. “After transitioning his responsibilities, he will continue in a strategic consultancy role, where his relationships with local and national governments will be instrumental to keeping our investment and expansion plans on course.”

Feder said Ford Australia manufacturing president Peter Lawson would be taking over in the newly created position of vice president of operations, effective immediately.

“As Hal says, it’s nowhere near the end of the road for myself and my involvement with Ford and the South African motor industry,” a youthful Kok, who is 57, said yesterday.

“Since it became known that I’m retiring, I’ve already had three offers of consultancy work, but I’m concentrating on the exciting developments taking place at Ford SA in Pretoria and PE.”

He recalled how he had started as an hourly worker in the pre-production area of Ford’s Neave assembly plant in 1968 after matriculating at Pearson High School. “That was the old one before it burnt down, and I had nothing to do with that,” Kok joked.

After completing army service, Kok returned to Neave and went on to study part-time for his BA in business economics at the then- University of Port Elizabeth, completing the degree in 1975.

The high-energy young man went on to work in various areas, including the then-fledgling computer department, which was beginning to take on a critical role with advances in technology. He was appointed pre-production control manager in 1985, but that year was also the only “low point” in his career.

“That was a time of heartbreak for many, including myself, when Ford closed most of its PE operations and moved to Pretoria.

“But I’m pleased to see on my regular visits there how it has recovered and boomed in the years in between.

“But I still think sadly of the many people who lost their jobs.”

After moving to the merged SA Motor Corporation (Samcor) in Pretoria, Kok became plant manager, followed by being manufacturing and supply director before Ford’s post-1994 “return” to South Africa.

“You could say that I’ve been right through the mill since those teenage days at Neave.

“That is maybe what is missing with today’s crop of young managers – there is a tendency to specialise too early, meaning they lose opportunities of experiencing varying environments.”

Turning to high points, Kok identifies two in recent history.

“One was securing the Rocam export programme for the engine plant at Struandale, on the edge of New Brighton. That really put us on the map worldwide.

“The second is securing the new T6 bakkie export contract for the Silverton plant and the Puma engine export deal for PE.”

Kok was referring to the recently announced investment of R1,5-billion for a replacement of the Ranger pick-up series (called T6 at present) in Pretoria, and Puma engine production, which will start in Port Elizabeth in 2010.

After retirement, Kok says he will have more time for his favourite pursuits of hunting, fishing and the great South African outdoors – “that is, if I have enough time before working more with Ford and also helping emerging entrepreneurs”.

“I see that as being essential in putting something back into an industry which has provided me with so much.”