Full Name: Louis Frederick Jacobus Meiring

Position: CEO of Zest WEG Group Africa

Main Activity of the Company: Designing, manufacturing, sales and installation of electrical products and solutions

Place of Birth: Johannesburg

Education: Electrical engineering

First Job: Electrical apprentice

Career History Prior to Current Position: I spent nine years at General Electric Corporation

Size of first Pay Packet: R400 a month

First Job with Present Group: Technical sales engineer, October 1991

Number of People under your Leadership: 700

Management Style: Open-door and participative

Personal Best Achievement: A wonderful young lady who’s my daughter

Professional Best Achievement: Being appointed CEO of Zest WEG Group Africa

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

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: James Blakemore, former chairperson of Zest and a very good friend

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Bill Gates

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Eggon Joao da Silva, founder member of WEG Group

Philosophy of Life: Work very hard but have balance

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Joining Zest WEG Group Africa

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Our country not getting a grip on crime and corruption

Hope for the Future: A crime-free South Africa that is economically and politically stable

Favourite Reading: Business-related material

Favourite TV Programme: History channel, Discovery channel and anything about classic cars

Favourite Food/Drink: Grilled fish/cold beer

Favourite Music: 50s and 60s

Favourite Sport: Golf

Favourite Website: Google

Hobbies: Golf and classic cars

Car: Land Rover

Pets: Two Yorkshire terriers that do not know they are dogs

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Dishonesty and noncommitment

Favourite Other South African Company: Sasol

Favourite Foreign Company: Apple

Married: To Pamela, since 1988

Children: Daughter, Samantha

Clubs: Country Club Johannesburg, KPT