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Victoria Backhaus-Jerling has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers, the first woman to lead AAAM as CEO.
She takes over following the retirement of Dave Coffey, who led the organisation from 2020.
The president of AAAM and VW Group Africa managing director, Martine Biene, said Backhaus-Jerling “demonstrated remarkable expertise and commitment to the development of the African automotive industry”, adding that the board is confident she will lead AAAM to even greater achievements.
“We are also proud to welcome the first woman to this pivotal role.
“We also extend our gratitude to Dave for his tireless dedication in transforming AAAM into a highly respected organization,” Biene said.
She said under Coffee’s leadership, AAAM has grown from 17 members in 2020 to 80 members today and has become a key player in advancing automotive industrialisation in Africa.
Before her appointment, Backhaus-Jerling served as Head of the Project Office in South Africa for the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) since October 2020.
“I am honoured to be appointed into this role and look forward to building on the strong foundation established by Dave and the AAAM team.
“My focus will be on driving collaboration, inclusivity and innovation across the continent, ensuring that AAAM continues to serve its members and stakeholders effectively.
“We have declared 2025 the year of collaboration and inclusivity, and I am excited to work with partners to further industrialise and grow Africa’s automotive industry,” she said.
Reflecting on his tenure, Coffee said it has been an incredible and fun journey to lead AAAM and witness the progress of Africa’s automotive industry.
“The future is full of opportunity, with countries like Egypt, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire implementing their automotive policies this year, and others, such as Kenya and Nigeria, advancing their auto bills.
“Africa is no longer a dream but the next frontier for the global automotive industry,” he added.
