John Deere honours top performers for 2018

The contribution made by sales staff and technical experts to John Deere’s success in the sub-Saharan African region was celebrated at an awards function held in Kempton Park recently.

Speaking at the event, Jacques Taylor, managing director of John Deere sub-Saharan Africa, said John Deere’s sales staff and technicians were the men and women who interacted on a daily basis with clients, and it was the good service they offered that ensured John Deere clients “stick to the product”.

According to Taylor, in the next year, some key investment areas for John Deere would be in abovethe-line marketing and the development and implementation of precision agriculture solutions.

“We want farmers to put John Deere on the investment and return side of their income statement, not just on the cost side,” he said.

All the winners

The winners of the Sales Person of the Year Awards for 2018 were Kwek Dietrichsen from Senwes Hoopstad, Francois Destroo from Afgri South, and Paul van Rensburg from Afgri North.

The John Deere Business Development Officer for the Year was Eddie Schüler. He is responsible for the Greytown, Winterton, Kokstad, Port Shepstone, Dalton, Pietermaritzburg and Underberg areas.

Malinda de Beer was named the John Deere Business Analyst of the Year for 2018. De Beer is based in the Western Cape, where she is dedicated to dealing with all John Deere financial transactions in the province. She works with three business development officers and has facilitated the conclusion of business deals to the value of R72,6 million, consisting of

252 applications, in the past year.

Jaco Wessels from Afgri Marquard was named the John Deere Parts Expert of the Year. Wessels has been in the parts business for 24 years, and with Afgri for 17 years. He said he entered the competition to test himself and his parts knowledge. “I learnt a lot through this competition and realised that there is still a lot to learn,” he said.

Artie Bester from Afgri Bethlehem won the award for Technician of the Year. He first started working at Afgri as an apprentice in 2004. This is the second time he has won the Technician of the Year title, having been placed first in 2016 and in second place in 2017. – Denene Erasmus

PHOTOS: Denene Erasmus ABOVE: Artie Bester (left), the John Deere Technician of the Year 2018, and Jaco Wessels, the John Deere Parts Expert of the Year 2018.

ABOVE: From left: Antois van der Westhuizen managing director of John Deere Financial for sub-Saharan Africa); Eddie Schüler (Business Development Officer of the Year 2018); Malinda de Beer (Business Analyst of the Year 2018); and Jacques Taylor (managing director of John Deere sub-Saharan Africa).