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2012 ANNUAL REPORT
44
Human Resources
People are GB Auto’s most important
resource: From the boardroom to the
assembly line to the sales floor, GB Auto’s
success is driven by people. Knowing
that, the company has invested heavily in
all aspects of its human resources.
The GB Academy
In September 2011 the GB Academy
soft-launched training classes with
Toronto’s Centennial College, becom-
ing one of the first automotive-specific
training academies in the region. In
the 18 months since, GB Academy has
enhanced organizational efficiency and
raised quality standards, benefitting
customers and placing GB Auto at the
forefront of regional employers.
The GB Academy is focused on deliver-
ing a signature learning experience to all
GB Auto employees, from the frontline
to the executive level, based on training
paths and career development defined
through the HR Training and Devel-
opment team. Programs range from
soft-skills enhancement to management
and finance topics as well as on-the-job
training and refresher courses for after-
sales service employees.
First classes at the Academy were held
starting on September 6, 2011, at GB
Auto’s Prima facility in the Greater
Cairo Area’s Abu Rawash Industrial
Zone, where Centennial’s mentoring
team is administering the program,
overseeing training of trainers, and
collaborating with GB Auto staff to
mentor employees in the workplace.
Construction is ongoing of GB
Academy’s LE 16 million purpose-built,
4,000-square-meter facility in Abu
Rawash. Originally scheduled to open
in the second quarter of 2012, events
in Egypt necessitated an extended con-
struction schedule and currently the
Academy is slated to open its doors in a
soft-opening in June 2013.
The facility will include 22 classrooms
and labs including allocated space for
commercial vehicle training, manufac-
turing training, after sales and business,
finance and IT training.
Fleshing out the Executive Team
In 2012, GB Auto successfully concluded
efforts that began in 2011 to find the
strongest management talent to round
out the C-Suite, with the addition of
Chief Financial Officer Mostafa El Mahdi
and Chief Manufacturing Officer Ahmet
Satiroglu.
• Mr. Mostafa El Mahdi, Chief Financial
Officer, brings to GB Auto 22 years of
experience at KPMG, where he joined
in 1990 before being promoted to
Partner in 2001. You can read more
details about Mr. El Mahdi on page 42
of this Annual Report.
• Prior to joining GB Auto, Mr. Ahmet
Satiroglu, Chief Manufacturing
Officer, spent his entire career with the
company now known as Ford Otasan
AS (Ford of Turkey). You can read
more details about Mr. Satiroglu on
page 40 of this Annual Report.