PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA, 18 August 2026 – Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (Manufacturing) (Pty) Ltd has announced the appointment of long-standing global manufacturing expert Angela Weathers as Plant Manager of its Silverton Manufacturing Plant, effective August 2026. Weathers joins South Africa from her role as Director of Manufacturing, Quality Operating Systems at Ford Motor Company in the United States and will report to Ockert Berry, Vice President, Manufacturing Operations, Ford South Africa.
She brings more than three decades of manufacturing leadership experience with Ford, having held senior positions spanning engineering, quality, operations and plant management. Throughout her career, she has led major manufacturing transformation programmes, advanced operational excellence, strengthened quality systems and championed a strong culture of safety and team development across Ford's global manufacturing operations.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she also led Ford’s critical ventilator production programme, demonstrating her ability to lead complex manufacturing operations under extraordinary and high-pressure circumstances.
She assumes leadership at a defining moment for Silverton Vehicle Operations. The plant was recently recognised with Ford's Global VO Plant Quality Excellence Award, acknowledging it as the highest-performing Ranger manufacturing facility in Ford's global production network. Silverton produces the Ford Ranger for customers in South Africa and more than 100 export markets worldwide, making it one of Ford's most strategically important manufacturing operations globally.
Her appointment comes as Ford South Africa prepares to elevate its manufacturing presence in South Africa in the wake of significant global competitive shifts. As Ford enters its ‘second century’ in South Africa, Weathers will assume her role as Plant Manager of the Silverton Manufacturing Plant as it evolves into its next chapter, building on a legacy of manufacturing excellence and continuing to strengthen quality, innovation and competitiveness.
"Angela has built an exceptional career across Ford's global manufacturing organisation, combining operational excellence with deep expertise in quality, advanced manufacturing technologies and people leadership," said Ockert Berry, VP Manufacturing Operations, Ford South Africa.
"She joins the team at Silverton at an exciting time. Our team has established the plant as one of Ford's leading manufacturing operations for quality globally. As we enter our second century in South Africa, her experience will help us continue raising this benchmark for quality, innovation and operational excellence even further. I am confident she will build on the outstanding foundation that has been created here already, while helping shape the next chapter of our manufacturing journey."
Weathers succeeds Suresh Babu, who returned to India at the end of July to become Plant Manager at Ford’s Chennai Powertrain Operations.
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