Full Name: Johann Schleritzko

Position: MD of Beka

Main Activity of the Company: Manufacture and supply of technical lighting equipment, including streetlights, floodlights, industrial lights and decorative exterior lights

Date and Place of Birth: Janaury 6, 1952, Vienna, Austria

Education: I studied telecommunications and electronics in Vienna

First Job: Tungsram, Austria

Career History Prior to Current Position: Regional sales engineer for Philips in Namibia

Size of First Pay Packet: R500 a month

First Job with Present Group: MD, since 1981

Value of Assets under Your Control: R165-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: 320

Management Style: Informal, cooperative and inclusive

Personal Best Achievement: Immigrating to South Africa

Professional Best Achievement: Growing Beka into Africa’s biggest lighting company

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My wife

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Manfred Brand, chairperson of Brand Engineering

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Helmut Schmidt, previous Chancellor of Germany and now elder statesman

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Martin Winterkorn, MD of Volkswagen in Germany

Philosophy of Life: Make the best of life, enjoy it

Biggest Ever Opportunity: The offer to establish Beka in Windhoek, Namibia, in 1974

Biggest Ever Disappointment: None

Hope for the Future: That Africa rids itself of corrupt leaders

Favourite Reading: Online magazines

Favourite TV Programme: TV news

Favourite Food/Drink: Kingklip/Sauvignon Blanc

Favourite Music: Classical

Favourite Sport: Beach walking

Favourite Website: www.spiegel.de

Hobbies: Playing with my grandchildren

Car: VW Touareg

Pets: A dog and a cat

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Laziness and incompetence

Favourite Other South African Company: South Africa’s diversified wine producers

Favourite Foreign Company: Apple

Married: To Suzanne since May 16, 1978

Children: Peter, 33; Nadja, 29

Clubs: None