Dressen takes the helm at ZF Aftermarket South Africa

ZF Aftermarket has appointed Maic Dressen to lead its South African operations, bringing more than two decades of global aftermarket experience to a role spanning key African markets and territories.

Dressen comes in as managing director of ZF Services South Africa and sub-regional head for sub-Saharan Africa and French overseas territories (DomTom). In his new role, Dressen will lead the company’s South African operations and support ZF Aftermarket’s continued development across the African continent.

Two decades in the game

With more than 20 years of experience in the international automotive aftermarket, Dressen brings extensive commercial and leadership expertise, as well as a strong understanding of the diverse markets and business environments across Africa.

Dressen started his automotive career as a student intern with BMW in South Africa in 2002. This formative experience laid the foundation for his passion for the automotive industry and sparked a lasting affinity for the African continent.

His time in South Africa subsequently led him to ZF Trading, where he spent the first four years of his professional career as key account manager for the Middle East and Africa. He later gained valuable experience in the original equipment (OE) sector before returning to the automotive aftermarket, where he has held various international leadership positions.

A return to the aftermarket

“The OE sector gave me important insights into the automotive industry from a different perspective. However, I quickly realised that the aftermarket is where I feel most at home. It is a people-driven business built on trust, personal engagement and long-term relationships – and that is what motivates me,” says Dressen.

Throughout his career, he has remained closely connected to Africa, working extensively with customers and business partners across the continent. His experience spans a broad range of aftermarket products, customer groups and distribution channels. Before rejoining ZF, Dressen served as vice president: sales for the Middle East, Africa and India at a German automotive parts manufacturer.

Experience for a changing market

“Maic has a broad background, with extensive experience in aftermarket sales and marketing, which are key competencies needed to grow our business into the burgeoning African market,” says Andre Scholle, VP and head of region India, Turkey, MEA and CIS at ZF Aftermarket.

South Africa is one of ZF’s longest-established locations globally and plays an important role within the wider regional organisation. Its experienced local team, technical capabilities and established infrastructure provide a strong foundation for supporting customers and partners in other African markets.

“A string of mergers and acquisitions also necessitated a dedicated regional head, as our offering has grown substantially, requiring specialised skills and regional focus to grow these business lines,” adds Scholle.

Building from South Africa

In his new role, Dressen will work closely with the local ZF team to strengthen the company’s position in South Africa, while developing market-specific growth opportunities across the continent. The focus will be on understanding the individual requirements of each market and working collaboratively with customers and partners to provide appropriate aftermarket products, services and technical support.

“We felt it was important to bring someone into this strategic role from outside the ZF organisation to inject new thinking, find innovative solutions to the unique challenges posed by the diverse markets on the continent and, importantly, transfer the skills and techniques honed in South Africa to our other African partners,” says Scholle.

“Africa cannot be approached as a single market,” notes Dressen. “Every country has its own economic environment, vehicle parc, distribution structures and customer requirements. Sustainable growth therefore requires local understanding, close cooperation and solutions tailored to the realities of each market.”

Focus on sustainable growth

“I’m delighted to return to ZF and to the continent that has played such an important role throughout my professional life. My ambition is to create sustainable growth by listening to our markets, identifying new business opportunities and further developing strong, mutually beneficial partnerships across Africa,” Dressen continues.

“Together with the experienced ZF team in South Africa, I want to build on the strong foundations already in place and contribute new ideas, energy and perspectives to the next phase of our development.”