Mr. N. Kessery

Mr. Neeraj Kessery has been part of the VW B-BBEE Initiatives Trust for the past four years; initially appointed as a Trustee in February 2020 and then as the Trust CEO in August 2022, leads with 25 years’ experience in the automotive sector; with the last 10 years focusing on entrepreneurship and enterprise development. Mr Kessery’s years at an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) have given him keen insight into the complete supply chain from component procurement to quality into the production plant. He then moved to the role of incubation programmes manager and established supplier incubation centres at two Gauteng based OEMs. This allowed him to work closely with entrepreneurs and other automotive stakeholders from both the private and government sectors. Due to the success of the OEM incubators, Mr Kessery was tasked with establishing a Township Incubator which is used to up-skill and secure work for township SMME’s in the Auto body repair and spray painting space.


Mr Kessery’s thoughts on the work done by the VW B-BBEE Initiatives Trust:
“The VW Trust is aligned to goals of transformation, empowerment, and community development. Impact on Black-Owned Suppliers in the value chain is achieved by providing developmental funding in the form of loans and securing equity. The Trust plays a crucial role in fostering diversity, inclusion, and economic empowerment within the automotive industry. This support helps businesses grow, innovate, and become more competitive in the market, ultimately contributing to a more diverse automotive ecosystem. Micro-Enterprises are supported by investing in initiatives that empower them in an effective way to address local economic challenges in the communities surrounding Uitenhage.”

Mr Kessery’s aspirations for the VW B-BBEE Initiatives Trust:

  • To strengthen partnerships and collaboration with key stakeholders, including government agencies and industry players. By working together with these partners, the Trust can leverage resources, expertise, and networks to amplify its impact.
  • To continue playing a leading role in promoting economic empowerment among black-owned businesses in the automotive value chain. This will involve expanding the reach to businesses in the automotive and adjacent value chains.
  • To demonstrate measurable impact and accountability in achieving the Trusts goals and fulfilling its mandate.