Sasfin Premier Logistics
has moved its Western Cape
operations into a new league
with the appointment
of Donovan Mears as its
regional manager for the
province.
The company, which has
seen some major changes in
the past two years including
a new sole shareholder, a
new CEO and a company
name change in 2012, plans
to grow its Western Cape
footprint extensively in the
coming months.
Mears, who has more
than 20 years’ international
experience in the logistics
industry, will spearhead
this growth strategy.
“Top priority is the
diversification of our
business, which has
traditionally been focused
on the book business,” said
Mears. “We believe there
are major opportunities in
the perishables sector and
this is one area where we
see growth for the business
in the coming months,” he
said.
Mears, who took up his
new position on September
1, is also joined by several
other key industry
specialists to guide the
company on its new course,
which will also be a lot more
export focused.
“Traditionally we have
had an import focus and
it has made up the core of
our business,” said Mears.
“We hope to address that
imbalance through our
growth strategy as we
grow our export market
extensively.”
According to Peter H
Ehrenreich, chief executive
officer of Sasfin Premier
Logistics, the decision
to bring Mears on board
followed the resignation of
their Cape Town regional
manager.
“This has allowed us
the opportunity to find
a successor ideal for our
strategy of growing our
Western Cape operations.
Donovan is a perfect match
for the company with his
operational background and
commercial focus, especially
adding value to where the
business is heading.”
Ehrenreich said the
decision to invest heavily in
sales assets in the Western
Cape – along with the
appointment of Mears – was
all geared at expanding the
business and establishing
the product brand even
further. He said the same
initiatives were taking place
in Johannesburg, Durban
and Port Elizabeth. The
company is also building
a state-of-the-art office
and warehouse on Pomona
Road next to OR Tambo
International Airport.
Sasfin Premier Logistics
grew 25% in the financial
year ending in June and
has set a growth target of
another 25% in the next
financial year.
“Additional growth
through acquisitions is also
very feasible,” Ehrenreich
said and he invites
companies to approach him
if they are interested.
“Our entire business has
been restructured in the
past two years. We have
also implemented a new
IT system and centralised
several core functions to our
Johannesburg office,” he
told FTW.
CAPTION
Donovan Mears, regional manager Western Cape, and Peter H Ehrenreich, chief executive
officer of Sasfin Premier Logistics.
