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Industry Excellence Spotlighted at Inaugural F&I Awards in Sandton

Nov 09, 2023 absa, finance, insurance, F&I #F&IAwards

Industry Excellence Spotlighted at Inaugural F&I Awards in Sandton

Last night, the F&I industry's crème de la crème gathered in Sandton, Johannesburg, for a night of recognition and celebration at the inaugural Finance and Insurance Awards. This landmark event put the spotlight on the stellar achievements of industry professionals who have raised the bar in the South African Finance & Insurance landscape.

 

Groundbreakers in the F&I realm have been the bedrock of advancing vehicle sales, adeptly managing risks, ensuring compliance, and curating tailored financial and insurance solutions for customers. The awards were a testament to their unwavering commitment to service excellence, innovation, and bolstering the economic well-being of individuals and businesses alike.

With the backing of major sponsors like Absa and the collaborative efforts of TransUnion, MVIA, Orange Owl, Crystal Fusion, and Netstar, the event was a grand success, championing the exemplary work of F&I professionals.

 

Absa's Fulufhelo Mandane, Head of Sales and Distribution, encapsulated the sentiment of the evening with his remarks on the pivotal role of the F&I sector in shaping a resilient economic future, stressing Absa's ongoing support for industry innovation and customer-centric initiatives. The evening's honourees were applauded for their extraordinary service and for embodying the F&I sector's core principles.

 

Brand Pretorius, the esteemed guest speaker and retired McCarthy Limited chief executive, imparted valuable insights on personal triumph in the face of industry challenges. He spoke about how difficult it was to come up with the presentation on the theme of how to create sustainable success saying “I think I learned much more in my 53 year long career from the lack of success - particularly at McCarthy where my team were tasked with reinvigorating an insolvent company whose R21 per share had plummeted to just 18 cents”.

 

He shared few key tenets that he recommends in striving to sustain success. A few of the notable tips were paraphrased as:

  • Constantly remaining hopeful,
  • Avoid toxic and hopeless conversations,
  • Have an ambitious, clear vision to achieve lofty goals
  • Accept responsibility
  • Conduct yourself in a balance of moral and emotional intelligence,
  • Balance ambition with diligent execution (well done vs well said)
  • Manage yourself expertly – organisation, focus and integrity translate most effectively into achievement
  • Optimism doubles your own energy - Attitude determines altitude
  • Lifelong learning is key. Live like tomorrow doesn’t exist, and learn like you will live forever.
  • Measure your success by results
  • Deliver consistently for your clients

 

Pretorius finished off to a standing ovation with the most impactful of all his tips: “Its not all about your career. Strive to serve a higher purpose and make a positive difference in the world and to those around you. The greatest source of fulfilment is having those you love, appreciate and love you back. And I wish every one of you that, as the true measure of your success”.

 

The evening was studded with notable accolades:

  • Vinolia Selepe from Super Group clinched the F&I Customer Experience Award for her exceptional service that redefines transparency and trust.
  • Madelein Kruger of Lazarus Motor Co took home the F&I Marketing Campaign of The Year Award, having crafted a campaign that significantly amplified brand engagement and sales figures.
  • Fuzion Motor Group's Gary Newton was honored with the F&I Industry Leadership Award for his transformative influence within the industry.

 

The Group F&I of The Year award was one of the most anticipated recognitions, bestowed upon Hannelie van Zyl from Lazarus Motor Co for her indelible impact on customer service standards.

Reflecting the diverse fabric of the South African F&I sector, the F&I of The Year Award was segmented to honour the outstanding contributions of small, medium, and large-scale dealerships:

  • Muji Suzuki's Malissa van der Mechst was celebrated for her achievements in the small dealership category.
  • Belinda Katzke from Super Group was recognized for her contributions to the medium dealership segment.
  • Kim Elizabeth Waterson from Super Group took the top honours for large dealerships.

 

The night's pinnacle was the presentation of the F&I Lifetime Achievement Award to Christo Claasen of VAPS Consultancy, a fitting tribute to his monumental contributions to the industry.

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