After four decades at Isuzu, Ken has diesel in his veins
As Isuzu Motors South Africa celebrates 40 years of Isuzu bakkie production in SA this year, so one employee with diesel in his veins also celebrates 40 years of working with Isuzu. Despite being offered other jobs, Isuzu Motors South Africa contract programme manager Kenneth Bartle stayed loyal to the Isuzu brand from his very first day as an engineering technician in early 1978. “The DNA of Isuzu has remained the same: reliability, durability and toughness. The product has evolved over time with respect to styling, size and engine capacity, and is still an important player in the SA market,” Bartle said. “Our Isuzu customers are very brand loyal because of the evolution of the product over the last 40 years and even more so with the launch of the new SUV, the MU-X,” said Bartle, who is the proud owner of a head-turning 2.5l double-cab X-Rider. Even though he officially retired last year, Bartle is still involved in an advisory capacity for the product development team, as well as supporting other functional areas on LCV, SUV and truck. His 40 years with Isuzu had taken Bartle, who is a born and bred Port Elizabethan, on quite a ride – taking up assignments with Isuzu Motors Ltd in Thailand and Japan, the highlight of his career. “Being sent on my first assignment with my family in 1997 for three years was awesome. We immersed ourselves in the Japanese culture and way of life. “From this base I was able to integrate myself within the Isuzu organisation, which allowed me to experience the Isuzu Way with respect to people, product and the Isuzu brand. “For me this was an invaluable experience which also resulted in the development of many friendships across the company,” Bartle said. He returned in March 2011 for his second assignment in Japan, the week of the earthquake and tsunami, and then nuclear plant explosion, which for the first few months involved supporting the country’s clean-up operations. After 18 months in Japan he was transferred to the Isuzu LCV operation in Bangkok, Thailand. Bartle describes the automotive industry as “one of the most exciting industries to work in”. He explains: “The automotive industry must be one of the toughest industries in the world because of its cyclic nature, but at the same time this allows for vision and creativity to ensure that where possible one is able to react to the changes. “This provides a competitive edge or simply being able to ensure a sustainable business in tough times.”