Neutral cargo consolidator SACO CFR has appointed industry heavyweight “JP” Pretorius as its new general manager airfreight, a position that current incumbent, Stephen Bishop, vacates today.
Pretorius cut his teeth in airfreight from the ground up at Kuehne + Nagel’s D-Group Facility at OR Tambo International Airport, starting off with data capturing, cargo handling and forklift driving.
He even chipped in over weekends to immerse himself in as many aspects as possible from the get-go.
“It was a really good area to start learning because I had no experience in the airfreight industry,” he said.
A busy start in the industry was followed by an automotive-focused import controller position, related report compilation, and a supervisory role overseeing automotive products.
Still with Kuehne + Nagel (K+N), he was sent to Bremen, Germany, in 2014 to hone his skills as a team worker dedicated to client-centric care on a global level, a learning curve that was followed by an in-house stint at VW in Uitenhage.
Having completed the successful implementation of VW’s account for K+N, the multinational tasked him with managing trade lanes to locations including Spain, Italy, and the US, before appointing him as airfreight import-export branch manager in Cape Town.
Looking back at that period of his career, Pretorius recalls how the expansion of perishable freight dominated global cargo at the time.
“Part of my responsibility was to establish a perishable product for K+N both in Cape Town and Johannesburg. One of the things I had to do was making sure that all the necessary phytosanitary requirements were adhered to.”
He then moved to DSV where he focused on new business development, before becoming a key account manager for DB Schenker, a role that included looking after clients in the automotive and technology sector.
Reflecting on the past few years, Pretorius said the pandemic was a wake-up call of sorts, a return to his hands-on roots.
“I think it showed us who we are as human beings. Nobody was prepared for what happened. Staff restrictions forced everyone involved to help out in the warehouse, even directors. There was no time to say I’m a manager and this is not my job. Everyone jumped in.”
A period of catching up with freight surges caused by coronavirus backlogs as markets moved in and out of lockdown also meant that a greater emphasis was placed on trust, Pretorius says.
“We had to think on a whim and get the job done. It wasn’t always easy but reminded us of how important it is to think on your feet and act quickly, especially in Covid-complicated market conditions.”
Talking about his new role, Pretorius said: “I used to deal directly with importers. Now my clients are the freight forwarders. I know what they want and look forward to developing new products for them, looking after trade lanes, and using what I know of the business to the advantage of SACO CFR.”
The group’s CEO, Dave Graham, said it hadn’t been easy finding a suitable replacement for Bishop, who is moving over to DB Schenker.
“Stephen has done a super job for us in building up our airfreight division. Finding good people is never easy but we are fortunate to have appointed JP.
“One of the reasons we are excited to have him on board is because of his mix of commercial and operational experience. Added to that, he has a very strong client-centric focus and good cultural fit when it comes to looking after staff wellness, a very important part of our company ethos.”
Pretorius will take over the reins after an initial handover period.
