Sir Tom Farmer Keynote Speaker at TyrexpoAfrica

Kwik-Fit founder Sir Tom Farmer, who is credited with revolutionising tyre retailing in the UK, is to present a keynote speech at the TyrexpoAfrica industry conference in Johannesburg next March. Sir Tom is one of the most recognisable names in the global tyre industry. He founded Kwik-Fit in Scotland in 1971, developing it to become one of the world’s largest automotive parts repair and replacement specialists, before selling the company to Ford in 1999.

Among many honours, Sir Tom was awarded the CBE in 1990, received a Knighthood in 1997 and in the same year was made a KCSG (Knight Commander with Star of the Order of St. Gregory the Great). In 2009 he was created a Commander of the Victorian Order (CVO) in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours.

He now supports a wide range of charitable and philanthropic causes while maintaining an interest in the UK tyre business through his involvement with the Farmer Autocare retail group in his native Scotland.

His presentation to delegates will cover the Kwik-Fit success story; the challenges facing today’s tyre retailers and the ‘customer experience.’ He will also provide an expert insight into key business areas such as price discounting, staff motivation and the added value factor.

“Sir Tom Farmer is universally known and admired for his stellar achievements with Kwik-Fit so we regard it as a real coup to have secured his involvement in the TyrexpoAfrica conference,” says Rowena Suthers, sales director with exhibition organiser ECI International.

Sir Tom will join an impressive gathering of speakers in Johannesburg that includes Georg Schramm, head of marketing and sales for Dunlop/Apollo, South Africa; David Wilson from the UK Retread Manufacturers Association and Dr Etienne Human, lead consultant with South Africa’s National Waste Tyre Project and CEO SATRP Co.

Further speakers for the one-day conference on 5 March 2010 will be announced in the coming months.

Leading automotive equipment manufacturer Robert Bosch & Beissbarth SA and tyre repair specialist Chemvulc are among the latest well-known suppliers to confirm their involvement in the show.