KEVIN MAYHEW BIRKART Globistics (SA) is to strengthen its existing infrastructure in South Africa and spread its wings over the border in the next three years, according to new managing director Patrick Federle. The promotion of Federle from financial director, and Johannesburg branch manager Adrian Brink to general manager, operations, are two major executive changes by the international supply chain giant in South Africa. Federle hints at no immediate change to the company’s focus on supply chain management for its traditional sectors - automotive and electronic. However, we will be looking at other options to extend our focus areas. Presently we are more concerned with strengthening our South African infrastructure to meet future challenges. “Over the local borders we intend to have a presence in Namibia, Mozambique and Mauritius within three years,” he adds. Federle committed the company to the ambitions of the national skills development programme, saying that Birkart will be taking on its first learners to train through the Transport Education & Training Authority (TETA) in September. German-born Federle has been with Birkart Globistics in South Africa for the past three years after an extended period at the international head office in Aschaffenburg near Frankfurt. The company’s national network includes offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and East London.
