Meet president’s award winners

Ford NZ has celebrated the outstanding achievements of its dealer network by announcing the winners of the company’s annual president’s awards. 

The recipients included Stephen Hermansen, of Ocean Ford in Whakatane, Nathan Abernethy, of Regional Ford in Gore, and Michael Tappenden, of South Auckland Motors.

The others were Peter Gluyas, of Gluyas Ford in Ashburton, and Hamish Sheard, of Pacific Motor Group, Whangarei.

“It’s a privilege to recognise the exceptional dedication of this year’s winners,” says Annaliese Atina, managing director of Ford NZ. “We have made the customer ownership journey our North Star and these five dealerships have led the way. 

“Their success is built on a relentless attention to detail and a commitment to the ‘small wins’ that create lasting impressions for our drivers. These awards also celebrate the significant investment in training and operational excellence required to stay at the top of our industry.”

The president’s award criteria place the highest value on Ford’s customer experience, which is determined by rigorous satisfaction metrics. 

Elevating this experience remains a core strategic priority for Ford NZ, which works in collaboration with its dealer network to refine every touchpoint from first-time purchase to the long-term reliability of servicing.

“We believe the real relationship with our customers begins the moment they drive off the lot,” says Greg MacDonald, network strategy director. “That’s why we place such a heavy emphasis on the long-term customer journey when selecting our president’s award winners. 

“The entire teams at these dealerships should be proud of their work. They aren’t just selling vehicles, they are building trust and ensuring that every Ford owner feels supported at every turn.”

This week’s ceremony took place during a gala dinner at the Te Pae Convention Centre in Christchurch. It was attended by dealer principals, their partners and Ford NZ’s leadership team.