Looking at the positive side

Octavia Tsibes



To be profitable in a highly competitive market and with the recession that is already in the eighth quarter, must not be overlooked. Managing Director (MD) at Pupkewitz Motors, Ekkerd van Wyk, who joined Pupkewitz in 2011 as the motor division’s Operations Manager, is very positive and innovative in all that he does within the company. When he first joined the company, he worked with Mr. Junior Bruwer and later took over from him as Managing Director of Pupkewitz Motors in 2014.

It worries van Wyk that the motor industry is not on every young job seeker’s shortlist. The motor industry does not only comprise out of mechanics and sales consultants, but is such a wide spectrum with numerous job opportunities that should be marketed and introduced to the public. “I would love to see schools introduce the automotive industry as a vital career opportunity such as logistics, marketing, information technology, computer based management programs and auditing, just to mention a few.” He adds “I will keep on inviting young Namibians into the motor industry and will keep on training them to become stewards of the trade.”

“We have various trainee programs in place. The Mechanical Traineeship is the most well-known trainee program that we have, where we train young individuals to become qualified mechanics. We also have the Administrative Traineeship, which focuses on financial management and accounting. The third traineeship, and one that I adore the most, is the Sales Traineeship that we offer. This program involves the training of young individuals as sales persons and marketers,” he says.

He further says that the programs are three months long where they train them, lucratively compensate them and if they succeed, the company employs them permanently as a junior, offering the opportunity for them to start building their career with Pupkewitz Motors. “We focus on young talent, if possible with a tertiary qualification, but if the trainee does not have this qualification, we give them the opportunity to obtain a qualification with our support,” he continues.

One of his many highlights is being part of the team that increased the market share of Pupkewitz Motors from 21 percent in 2011 to the current 35 percent.

“The fact that we could solve the shortage of technical personnel by giving on-the-job training and offering training opportunities to our current staff, is one of my greatest highlights,” he says.

“I must remind myself on a daily basis not only to focus on the big things that we are busy with, but to attend to the smaller details as well,” Ekkerd van Wyk, Managing Director at Pupkewitz Motors.

Van Wyk, who is both a father and grandfather, says he dedicates his career success to his family, “My values are very important to me and I believe it is crucial to remember where you have started. I believe others value my work ethic, my enthusiasm and positive attitude. It may also be that my ability to listen to others and my contributions towards the team drive others to achieve the mutual goal.”

He tries to push himself to be innovative on a daily basis, “I encourage my colleagues to refrain from stagnating and to go be creative beyond the day-to-day activities,” he says.

Facts Box:

· Born 1959 in Gobabis

· Van Wyk matriculated in 1977, Outjo

· He completed his apprenticeship as a motor mechanic and received a diploma in Mechanical Engineering in 1985.

· He obtained his qualifications in Commerce from The University of Stellenbosch in 1989

· In 1994 he joined the Barry Group of Companies as Dealer Principal of Jaffes Ford in Worcester.

· 1999 he moved to Novel Motor Company in Stellenbosch

· 2003 moved to Novel Motor Company in Windhoek.