Ford South Africa has appointed Angela Weathers as plant manager of its Silverton Manufacturing Plant, bringing more than three decades of global manufacturing experience to one of the company’s key production facilities.
Angela Weathers | image supplied
Weathers takes up the role in August 2026, moving from her position as director of manufacturing, quality operating systems at Ford Motor Company in the US. She will report to Ockert Berry, vice president of manufacturing operations at Ford South Africa.
Her career at Ford has spanned engineering, quality, operations and plant management. She has also led manufacturing transformation programmes, operational excellence initiatives and quality systems across the company’s global operations.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Weathers led Ford’s ventilator production programme, overseeing the manufacturing response during a period of significant operational pressure.
She takes charge of Silverton following the plant’s recent recognition with Ford’s Global VO Plant Quality Excellence Award, which named it the highest-performing Ranger manufacturing facility in Ford’s global production network.
Silverton produces the Ford Ranger for South Africa and more than 100 export markets.
Weathers’ appointment comes as Ford South Africa prepares for the next phase of its manufacturing operations, with the company entering what it describes as its “second century” in South Africa.
“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 Berry.
Weathers succeeds Suresh Babu, who returned to India at the end of July to become plant manager at Ford’s Chennai Powertrain Operations.