Karen Bryden new CEO of the AASA shows Jean Todt the clubs 24 hour call centre in operation
The Automobile Association of South Africa has announced a prize offered by Ferrari to the best trainee attending the AA’s Training Academy (AATA). For the next four years the AATA’s best performing trainee will be sent to the Ferrari headquarters in Maranello for a week long work experience at the Italian firm’s specialist sports and racing car factory. The prize was announced at a special ceremony at the AATA in Johannesburg attended by Jean Todt representing Ferrari and Ed Kok on behalf of the AASA. Also participating was the Make Roads Safe Ambassador, actress Michelle Yeoh (who was visiting South Africa as part of a documentary film the FIA Foundation is currently preparing) and the Foundation’s Director General, David Ward.
Speaking at the launch Jean Todt said that he was “enormously proud that Ferrari could contribute to skills development in automotive engineering in South Africa” and wished all the trainees the best of luck in the competition to be the prize winning trainee. He looked forward to the winner visiting Maranello in due course. Ed Kok of the SSAA highlighted the work of the AATA in delivering apprentice training programmes for petrol, diesel and electrical motor technicians. South Africa is experiencing a significant skill shortage in trained motor technicians and the AATA offers a unique and independent training facility to the country’s motor industry.
Talking about her current film project, Michelle Yeoh described her recent experiences in Cape Town where she witnessed the daily risks faced by school children simply trying to cross busy roads due to unsafe road design. She highlighted the important message of the Make Roads Safe campaign that road traffic deaths are not inevitable and that action must be taken to reduce the risk of road injury especially to children and young people. In South Africa over 15,000 people are killed in road crashes each year.
For the FIA Foundation, David Ward congratulated the AASA and Ferrari on the prize initiative which represents a unique incentive to the Academy’s trainees to work for the best overall result. Describing the forecast doubling of global motor vehicle use over the next twenty years, David Ward stressed that good vehicle maintenance is a vital ingredient to safer, cleaner and affordable motoring. “The AATA was, therefore, making a direct contribution to the huge challenge of promoting road safety in South Africa” he said.
Jean Todt and Michelle Yeoh also visited the AASA’s Head Quarters at Kyalami, met with the AA’s new CEO, Karen Bryden who replaces the recently retired CEO Ed Kok, and toured the clubs call centre operation.