Saiccor - The First 50 Years 5.8 MB - Sappi

The Wharton Period (1968–1970)
The Wharton Period
(1967 –1970)
John Wharton was Technical
Manager at Courtaulds’ viscose plant
in Mobile before transferring to
Saiccor as Managing Director from
1 October 1967� His appointment
was intended to focus Saiccor’s
attention on quality, something that
was generally acknowledged to
be lacking at the end of his
predecessor’s era� However,
Wharton spent much of his energy
on trivia, like insisting that the staff
bus stops at the back door of the
main block, not the front� This,
coupled with a very short temper,
detracted from his reputation and he
was not considered a good manager�
An Americanised Englishman, he is
said to have found it impossible to
drive a motor car with a manual
gearbox!
John Wharton, Managing Director
1968–1970
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