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Byron Nichles

12th December 2014

By: Martin Zhuwakinyu

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

  

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Full Name: Byron Nichles

Position: CEO of BMG

Main Activity of the Company: BMG is a specialist distributor of engineering components in Africa, with over 140 branches across sub-Saharan Africa

Date and Place of Birth: August, 18, 1971, Pretoria

Education: BCom (accounting), BCom (Hons) (accounting), certificate in the theory of accounting, CA(SA), Certified Global Management Accountant (UK)

First Job: Articled clerk at Deloitte Touche

Career History Prior to Current Position: Group CEO of ARB Holdings from February 2009 to October 2014, group CFO of Amalgamated Appliance Holdings from February 2008 to December 2008, director and shareholder of Bridge Capital Group from August 1999 to December 2007, Deloitte & Touche Corporate Finance from April 1997 to July 1999, Deloitte & Touche US (Miami and Chicago offices) secondment from January to March 1997, articled clerk at Deloitte & Touche Pretoria from January 1994 to December 1996

Size of First Pay Packet: R1 750 a month

First Job with Present Group: Current position

Value of Assets under Your Control: Assets totalling R2-billion generating revenues of over R4-billion a year

Number of People under Your Leadership: In excess of 3 000

Management Style: Collaborative, empowering but decisive – I am hard on performance but soft on people

Personal Best Achievement: Raising a beautiful daughter (although my wife really deserves the credit)

Professional Best Achievement: Delivering a sixfold increase in shareholder value during my five-and-a-half years at ARB Holdings

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My, daughter, Sophie – starting a family changed my perspective on everything and continues to be a guiding influence in every decision I make

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: I try to learn something from everyone I do work with and work for

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Sir Alex Ferguson

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Sergey Brin and Larry Page – founders of Google, arguably the most revolutionary and pervasive invention of modern time

Philosophy of Life: Do not sweat the small stuff and no matter how big or bad you think your problems might be, always remember that there are many, many people who would give everything to rather have ‘only’ your problems

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Joining BMG and the Invicta group

Biggest Ever Disappointment: None – I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason and, ultimately, things turn out the way they are meant to, so I do not live with regrets

Hope for the Future: That we empower and inspire each of BMG’s 3 000-plus employees to fulfil their potential, that I finally achieve a work-life balance, that I become a better father and husband and that Manchester United wins the English Premier Soccer League championship

Favourite Reading: Anything and everything from cycling magazines to fiction novels and business or strategy books to general science, history and biographies – I really enjoy reading

Favourite TV Programme: Supersport and Blue Bloods

Favourite Food/Drink: Ice-cream/a chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay

Favourite Music: Rock – Bon Jovi, Daughtry, Nickelback, Guns N’ Roses, and so on (see pets’ names below)

Favourite Sport: Soccer and cycling (road and mountain biking)

Favourite Website: www.news24.com – I can catch up on news, sport, weather and business headlines, all on one page

Hobbies: Watching sport, cycling and going to the gym, travelling, reading and wine tasting

Car: Land Rover Discovery

Pets: Jovi (Jack Russell) and Daughtry (fox terrier)

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Negativity, laziness, dishonesty, traffic, reality TV shows, rap music, wind, Liverpool and mushrooms

Favourite Other South African Company: Bidvest

Favourite Foreign Company: Google

Married: To Nicki, for just on 14 years

Children: Sophie-Marie, 7, and our two dogs, Jovi and Daughtry

Clubs: Cycle Lab, Irene Country Club

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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