SAEED MOHAMMED AL GHANDI & SONS (AL GHANDI AUTO GROUP)
Saeed Mohammed Al Ghandi & Sons is a major distributor comprising 13 companies operating in the region. It is the distributor of IVECO, CNH Construction, Kohler Power Systems, Kohler Marine, Kobelco construction machinery, Golden Dragon, Mazzocchia waste disposal compactors, MGR environmental control systems, Sea Recovery marine and commercial water makers, and Climma marine air conditioners.
The company was established in 1972, and it credits its success to the quality of its team. HE Saeed Mohammed Al Ghandi first acquired the IVECO franchise more than 25 years ago.
In an exclusive interview, Saeed Mohammed Al Ghandi & Sons CEO Mark Jenkins spoke to Plant Machinery Vehicles about the company's greatest success in the past year, as well as its ambitions for 2023:
WHAT WERE YOUR GREATEST SUCCESSES IN 2022?
We did what we do best: enhance services that bridge the gaps in the commercial vehicles sector. Our breadth of offerings and expertise puts us in a unique position: we can see across the entire industry, which means we can help shape it in many areas – that benefit our partners and clients.
As a leading distributor of world-renowned brands in the Middle East and East Africa, we could offer extended warranties to our customers without increasing costs, which helped navigate worldwide logistical challenges. Our Commercial Vehicle ranges and Marine equipment sections did very well and saw an increase of 78%.
Furthermore, our most important strength is the quality of our team, working and delivering to the satisfaction of our customers. The team synergy was outstanding – from following pandemic regulations to coping with the supplychain challenges. Our very experienced sales and service team continuously strive for growth and excellence.
WHAT ARE YOUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES IN 2023?
Saeed Mohammed Al Ghandi & Sons (SMAG) and its unparalleled suite of offerings, products, services and support have provided many opportunities for different clientele for over 60 years. As we enter 2023, we will unlock value from this legacy to navigate the ongoing economic challenges as supply chains remain strained. There are three parts to our strategy. The first is constantly innovating and testing new technologies to help streamline operations and enhance efficiencies. This enables us to maintain sufficient stock availability to meet customer expectations. The second is diversification. In this dynamic market, it is necessary to be agile and adapt innovative technologies and alternatives to traditional methodologies. Thirdly, we are continuously enhancing our services to address customer requirements. For instance, with the ongoing supply chain challenges, stock availability, CAPEX availability or extensive price increases, our customers are keen to extend the normal operating life of a unit. To bridge this gap, we provide our customers with the best parts and service capabilities to ensure the least possible unit downtime.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE LONGER TERM?
Saeed Mohammed Al Ghandi & Sons was built to provide world-class products, service and parts support and outstanding customer service, and our robust network of partners demonstrates this. We believe that the consistent pursuit of innovation and marketleading solutions equates to improving quality, efficiency, productivity and, most importantly, customer satisfaction. In the long term, we are continuously looking for strategic partners that align with our vision.
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR SUSTAINABILITY PLANS.
Sustainability and CSR initiatives are vital to Saeed Mohammed Al Ghandi & Sons because it impacts our industry, people, communities and the next generation. We continue to create, develop, and participate in initiatives that benefit the communities and ensure that our financial strategies, investment and planning provide a definitive return for our stakeholders. In addition, we are identifying strategic partners that will enable us to implement environmental and technological changes for clean, efficient long-term solutions, which we can also offer our customers.