Meet the members of our
executive committee

Maretha Gerber

President & Group CEO

As the first female President & Group CEO for Daimler Truck Southern Africa, Maretha Gerber possesses more than 24 years of experience within Daimler, including what was previously referred to as Daimler Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz South Africa.

During her illustrious career, she has held various management roles across the sales, marketing, and dealer network divisions, including her reign as Dealer Principal for own retail, before returning to head office to occupy the role of Head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks. Thereafter, she subsequently became the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Mercedes-Benz Trucks and FUSO Trucks, being the last position she held, prior to marking a significant milestone in the automotive industry as the current President & Group CEO for DTSA.

In her role as President & Group CEO, Maretha is responsible for defining and implementing the overall strategy for DTSA as well as leading, motivating and developing its most valuable asset, its employees to ensure business success. Her visionary leadership skills will help steer the company towards new heights of innovation, sustainability, and success in the dynamic landscape of the Southern African truck and bus market.

Peter Kendzorra

Executive Director & Group CFO

Peter Kendzorra is an Executive Director and the Group CFO of DTSA, a role he has occupied since March 2020. Peter is responsible for the overall finance & controlling function which he manages together with his team. This includes, but is not limited to; Treasury, Group Accounting, Customs, International Procurement Services, Digital Innovation and Business Intelligence. Peter is also an Executive Director on the DTSA Board of Directors.

Gladstone Mtyoko

Vice President of Manufacturing

Gladstone Mtyoko is the Vice President for Manufacturing, a role he has occupied since 2017. His responsibilities include but are not limited to, developing a globally integrated production system, increasing productivity of the Commercial Vehicles assembly through continuous process improvement and the use of the latest machinery and equipment. His role further encompasses ensuring that the Quality, Occupational Safety and Environmental Integrated Policy and the Environmental System Management is developed and effectively implemented. Gladstone is also an executive member of the DTSA Executive Committee.

Olaf Petersen

Vice President for Sales & Marketing

Olaf Petersen is Vice President for Sales & Marketing, a role he assumed on 1 June 2024. Olaf started his career as a Trainee at Daimler AG in Germany in 1998. During his tenure, he worked in sales, marketing, product management, customer service and strategy in various countries in Europe, Asia, North America, Australia, Latin America and the Middle East. His most recent position, which he held since 2019 has been General Manager Daimler Truck Sales for Daimler Commercial Vehicles Middle East and North Africa. As Vice President for Sales & Marketing at DTSA, Olaf’s role includes but is not limited to, overseeing and steering the Retail Sales environment, Key Account and Product management for both Mercedes-Benz Trucks and FUSO Trucks Southern Africa. Olaf’s position further extends to Marketing and Supply Chain management for the company. Olaf is also an executive member of the DTSA Executive Committee.

Ziyad Gaba

Vice President of Customer Service, Parts and Downstream

Since 2017, Ziyad Gaba was Head of FUSO Trucks Southern Africa, before assuming the role of Vice President Customer Service, Parts and Downstream portfolio for Mercedes-Benz Trucks, FUSO and Freightliner in 2021. His role includes overseeing and steering the Parts Sales and Logistics environment, which also includes warranty, maintenance contracts and the dealer training portfolio. Ziyad is also an executive member of the DTSA Executive Committee.

Deon de Vries

General Manager for Mercedes-Benz Buses

Deon de Vries is the General Manager for Mercedes-Benz Buses, a role he assumed on 1 August 2024. Deon joined DTSA in 2015 as a Regional Sales Manager (RSM) for Mercedes-Benz Trucks, eventually becoming Head of Sales for Mercedes-Benz Trucks in 2019. As General Manager for Mercedes-Benz Buses, Deon will oversee the Mercedes-Benz Buses business in the Southern African region. His key responsibilities will include setting strategic vision and targets, leading the Sales, Parts, Service, and Marketing teams, and maximizing sales opportunities for Mercedes-Benz Bus products. He will manage market sales performance to meet market share, discount, and stock level targets. Additionally, Deon will be responsible for dealer steering, customer engagements, and key account support. Deon is also an executive member of the DTSA Executive Committee.

Thabo Moloi

General Manager: Used Trucks & Buses

Thabo Moloi is the General Manager for Used Trucks & Buses, a role he assumed on the 1st of February 2023. His role encompasses the overall management of the used trucks portfolio and ensuring long term sustainability of the business. Key strategic focus areas include; Steering of the overall business, with the intention to ensure continued growth and support of the new vehicle sales strategy, the expansion of TruckStore’s footprint across Southern Africa, and the effective and continued implementation of the national sales agency model. Thabo is also an executive member of the DTSA Executive Committee.

Tebogo Shumba

Head of Human Resources

Tebogo Shumba is the Head of Human Resources, a role she has occupied since 2019. Her role includes overseeing and steering the entire spectrum of the human resources function, which includes effective relationship building with various stakeholders, and defining and leading HR initiatives with the intention to support the achievement of business goals. Tebogo’s position further extends to reviewing, formulating and implementing HR policies, procedures and strategies, as well as acting as an advocate of the company’s values and workplace culture, to create the best working environment for all employees. Tebogo is also an executive member of the DTSA Executive Committee.

Mike Honiball

CEO of Daimler Truck Financial Services South Africa

Mike Honiball is the CEO for Daimler Truck Financial Services, a role he assumed in December 2021. Prior to this, he held an executive position within Mercedes-Benz Financial Services across various facets of the business for the last 15 years. In his current role, he is responsible for providing finance solutions for retail, corporate and the end customer, as well as product and service development for DTFS SA as a whole.  In addition to this, providing wholesale funding facilities for franchised dealers, risk management, and the attraction, retention and development of top employees form part of his overall portfolio. Mike is also an executive member of the DTSA Executive Committee.

Kevin Wels

Head of Dealer Network

Kevin Wels assumed the position of Head of Dealer Network on 1 February 2023. His role includes the planning, execution and delivery of dealer network growth and development plans and his key tasks include the development of dealer network strategies, national polices & procedures. In addition he is responsible for dealer network operations including dealer appointments, terminations, replacements, upgrades, buy-sell due diligence, improvement process and programs to support dealer profitability. He leads tactical initiatives, drives change management and promotes the vision of network elevation and solution development to complex issues. Kevin is also an executive member of the DTSA Executive Committee.