Sticking around for 65 years

In celebration of the Pratley Company’s 65th birthday, the Pratley family sat down with NEWS journalist Marizka Coetzer for a candid talk about family, fun and of course, sticking together.

Established in 1948, Pratley is a diverse and versatile manufacturing, mining and research group, respected for its innovation and quality.

The company is in the capable hands of Kim Pratley (CEO), who took over from his late father in 1983 at the young age of 28.

“When a company has been around for as long as 65 years it is definitely because of the hard work, support and loyalty from the hundreds of staff and directors on board,” says Kim.

Kim worked at Pratley for about two years after graduating from Wits University with a master’s degree in mechanical engineering before taking up the position as the CEO after the passing of his father.

“I basically grew up in the Pratley Company and spent most of my school holidays working here.The same goes for both of my sons who now also work here permanently.”

Both sons and their dad enjoy flying in their spare time and ironically, Kim and his youngest son Charles both received their pilot licence before they had their drivers licence.

Kim and Charles both fly for the Air Force where Kim, a Lieutenant Colonel, is the  Officer Commanding 104 Squadron at Waterkloof Air Force Base and Charles a pilot with the rank of Captain in the same squadron.

Val Pratley, wife of the CEO and mother of their two sons is not involved in the company except for keeping the home fires burning and always offering the three hardworking men in her life all the love and support from the background.

She rather keeps herself busy with her work at the Krugersdorp Methodist Church and Shalom Respite Centre.  She also is known as the poppy lady who supplies the whole of Krugersdorp with poppies, and loves spending her time in her garden.

The two Pratley brothers are both happily married.

Younger brother Charles has just returned from his honeymoon after tying the knot with his high school sweetheart Christine.

“I am off the market now,” Charles says jokingly.

His older brother is married to Nicola with whom he has two boys; Conor and Adam.

The younger brother followed in his father’s footsteps and studied at Wits University where he obtained a degree in industrial engineering. His older brother Andrew studied IT at Monash University where he obtained his bachelors in computing.

“Without people you don’t have a company, and we have a lot of people here with long service along with a very competent board of directors who are responsible for all our successes. Although this is a family-owned company, Pratley is not exclusively family managed.”