Full Name: Ernest Adriaan Lodewyk Botha
Position: Mining and metals sector leader, EY Africa
Main Activity of the Company: EY Africa provides professional and advisory services through four service lines: assurance, advisory, tax and transaction advisory services
Date and Place of Birth: March 7, 1977, in Sishen, Northern Cape
Education: High School Sand du Plessis, matric, 1995; BCompt (Hons), University of the Free State, 1999; CA(SA), 2001
First Job: Articled clerk at EY
Size of First Pay Packet: R2 100 a month
Number of People under Your Leadership: 540 professionals dedicated to the mining and metals sector in Africa
Management Style: Focus on the important issues; create space for everyone to contribute by inspiring, motivating and supporting them individually and collectively
Personal Best Achievement: Becoming a partner at EY
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My parents
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Ajen Sita, the first partner I worked for at EY and now the CEO of EY Africa
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: A fourball with Ernie Els, Tiger Woods and Rory Mcllroy
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Warren Buffett and Elon Musk
Philosophy of Life: The future depends on what you do today ― Mahatma Gandhi
Hope for the Future: Education is the passport to a better future, and we owe it to the youth of today and tomorrow
Favourite Reading: Nonfiction – history, biographies and opinion pieces; fiction –Deon Meyer, Anne Holt, Tony Park and Michael Connelly
Favourite TV Programme: Live sport, Homeland and House of Cards
Favourite Food/Drink: Braaivleis or tapas-style food/craft beer
Favourite Music: Everything from Adele to ZZ Top is on my iPod
Favourite Sport: Golf and running; I enjoy watching rugby, cricket, golf and tennis
Hobbies: Watching my children grow up and learning new things every day
Car: BMW
Pets: Thanks to my children, we have two cats, a hamster, several fish, a few rabbits . . .
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Selfishness and dishonesty
Married: To Marilize, née Jacobs, since 2006
Children: Ernest and Engelize, five-year-old twins
Clubs: Johannesburg Country Club