AROUND THE TRADE AROUND THE TRADE
JACOBSEN’S APAC AWARDS RECOGNISE AUSTRALIAN DEALERS AND STAFF
Above: ADE Turf Equipment’s Tim Coram (right) receives the APAC Customer Care Award from Jacobsen’s Jason King Above right: Mike Foskett (centre) receives the APAC Regional Sales Manager of the Year Award
Below: Ray Grech (centre) receives the APAC Outstanding Service Award
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GCSA Gold Partner Jacobsen has acknowledged its Australian dealers and staff at the company’s 2016 Awards Ceremony held during the recent Golf Industry Show in San Diego. ADE Turf Equipment (Victoria), McIntosh and Son (Western Australia), Ray Grech and Mike Foskett were all recognised for their role in growing the Jacobsen brand in Australia. Collecting the APAC (Asia Pacific) Customer Care Dealer of the Year Award was Melbournebased ADE Turf Equipment, with Tim Corman accepting it on behalf of the company. McIntosh and Son, Jacobsen’s dealer for Western Australia, was also recognised for its 25 years loyal service to the Jacobsen brand. In presenting ADE’s award, Ransomes Jacobsen’s customer care director Jason King noted that the company had demonstrated the importance of working closely with their customers. “ADE embraces new technology and provides clear and concise information to the manufacturing facilities in the USA and UK via the customer feedback process,” says King. “Recognising the importance of training, ADE not only invests in their own technicians’ development through factory training, they also provide training for their customers. In an environment where staff retention is challenging, ADE provides their technicians with
CHEMCHINA ACQUIRES SYNGENTA In the biggest corporate takeover by a Chinese company in history, China National Chemical Corporation (ChemChina) announced in February that it had agreed to buy Swiss agrochemical and seeds company Syngenta for $US43billion. ChemChina, which is headquartered in Beijing, possesses production, R&D and marketing systems in 150 countries and regions. It is the 58
AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 18.2
a structured career path to reward loyalty and advancement within the company.” Queensland-based Jacobsen product support manager Grech received the APAC Outstanding Service Award for his dedication to dealers in SE Asia, Australasia and Pacific Islands. Grech joined Jacobsen in 2010 and King commented in presenting the award that Grech was well recognised as an industry expert and ‘go to guy’ for golf course technicians. “I first met Ray nine years ago and today he continues to support his territory and remains a well-respected industry expert and member of our APAC team primarily looking after Australia and New Zealand for technical support. He thoroughly deserves this recognition.” The final award went to Foskett who was presented the APAC Regional Sales Manager of the Year Award by APAC managing director Chuck Greif. “Mike is the consummate groundscare professional and previously worked for our dealer in Western Australia before joining Jacobsen in June 2013,” says Greif. “He has been associated with the golf industry for over 20 years and in the past two and half years has done a superb job growing our brand in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.”
largest chemical corporation in China and its main businesses include materials science, life science, high-end manufacturing and basic chemicals, among others. In a letter to its customers shortly after the announcement, Syngenta said it was excited about the opportunities ahead but that it was business as usual for the time being. “The terms of this agreement will enable Syngenta to retain its name, its management, its