THERE IS a new face behind the desk of Saflink regional executive in Kwa-Zulu Natal, as former commercial manager Neville Salmon takes over from now-retired doyen of the SA maritime trade, Peter Grobler.
Grobler started his career over 35 years ago, working in the quaintly-titled position of water clerk in the family business of Sturrock (Cape) - a company which went through a lifetime of mergers with names as diverse as Aero Marine, Freight Services and finally the Rennies Group in 1985. Grobler followed this same course, ending up first as a director of Rennies Ships Agency in 1987, then his final position with Saflink in Bananaland in 1991.
Salmon, meantime, started his Safmarine career as sales rep in Harare, Zimbabwe in 1978, then progressed through various more elevated sales/marketing positions in his home country, SA and the UK until July 1990 when he took over as Safmarine's sales manager (Europe trades) in Durban - a position which was also merged into Saflink at its 1991 formation.
In July of that year he became regional sales manager, and was appointed commercial manager in April 1994.
