- Johan Vermeulen appointed Executive Vice President.
- Covers Manufacturing and Product Engineering.
- Also joins the Board of Directors.
- Appointment effective 1 September 2026.
- Career began at Delta Motor Corporation in 1995.
Isuzu Motors South Africa (IMSAf) has appointed Johan Vermeulen as Executive Vice President: Manufacturing and Product Engineering and as a Director on the company’s Board of Directors, effective 1 September 2026.
Vermeulen’s role at Isuzu in Gqeberha
Vermeulen will provide executive leadership for Manufacturing and Product Engineering for the Isuzu D-Max and commercial truck ranges built at the IMSAf operations in Gqeberha. As a board member, he will also contribute to the strategic direction and governance of the business.
The company describes the appointment as a progression from leading manufacturing operations to broader enterprise-level responsibility, with his expanded mandate intended to strengthen the connection between manufacturing, product engineering and the company’s long-term strategic priorities.
Three decades in engineering and manufacturing
Vermeulen has more than three decades of automotive industry experience, built within the organisation across both engineering and manufacturing. He began his career as a Maintenance Engineer at Delta Motor Corporation in 1995 and has since held progressively senior roles, contributing to the development of the company’s manufacturing capability and leading teams across complex operational environments.
Billy Tom, President of Isuzu Motors South Africa, said Vermeulen “brings an exceptional depth of manufacturing and engineering experience, combined with a grounded and people-centred approach to leadership.” Tom added that his experience would be valuable as the company works to position IMSAf for sustainable growth.
Johan Vermeulen on leadership
Vermeulen said he was honoured by the opportunity and looked forward to the responsibilities of the expanded role. “My role may be changing, but my approach to leadership remains the same,” he said, adding that leadership is about remaining humble and authentic and treating people with respect.
He holds that leadership responsibility should never create distance between leaders and the people they serve, and that trust must be earned through consistent actions. Vermeulen takes up the position on 1 September 2026, overseeing D-Max and truck production in Gqeberha.
Supplied by MotorPress (Nandi Matomela, Department Executive Corporate Affairs, Isuzu Motors South Africa)
This story is based on aggregated news, press release(s) or other sources and was prepared with the help of AI tools, which can make mistakes. Prices, specifications, general information and availability may change, so confirm the details with the manufacturer, other news sources or a dealer.