Birkart executive underscores SA’s key role in global picture

JOY ORLEK
LOGISTICS MAJOR Birkart Globistics has appointed Volker Hoebelt to the newly-created position of managing director marketing and sales based in Frankfurt but with global responsibility. In South Africa last week for the first time, Hoebelt touched base with several key clients on the first of what will become a regular annual visit. And it’s clear that South Africa has a key role to play in the international Birkart operation. “Globalisation is making it more and more important to have established facilities in all the countries in which we operate,” said Hoebelt. “We have had a strong presence in South Africa for the past 30 years and regard it as an important link in our global supply chain service, particularly in terms of our automotive industry involvement.” The Birkart Globistics message, he said, is customer-centric. “Organic growth rather acquisition has driven our expansion, and we will do our best to continue this in the future.” Skills development is clearly one of the key issues facing the industry, says Hoebelt, and it’s an issue to which SA managing director Patrick Federle has paid more than lip service. “We have established a learnership or talent development programme and will see our first two students qualifying in February next year. A further five have joined the programme and we see ongoing skills development as part of our future strategy of helping to grow the industry.”