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Andre van Zyl

11th July 2014

  

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Full Name: Andre van Zyl

Position: CEO of Reliable Transformers

Main Activity of the Company: Reliable Transformers is a manufacturer and supplier of all types of transformers, chokes and reactors up to 3.5 MVA

Date and Place of Birth: March 8, 1965

Education: National higher diploma in electrical engineering, 1988

First Job: Eskom microprocessing lab

Career History Prior to Current Position: I started working at Reliable Transformers in 1983, alongside my father, HJ van Zyl, who had started the company in his garage in 1982. I bought the business from my father in 1995, when he retired

Size of First Pay Packet: R525 a month, at Eskom

First Job with Present Group: My father made sure I got to know the business inside out and I became involved in all aspects of the business, including making tea

Value of Assets under Your Control: R25-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: About 80

Management Style: Inclusive, but I have a strong idea of where the company is heading and will often try to sell my ideas to my employees to get their buy-in

Personal Best Achievement: Quitting smoking

Professional Best Achievement: Growing Reliable Transformers into the company it is today

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: Steve Jobs

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My father

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Thuli Madonsela

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Steve Jobs

Philosophy of Life: We will never surrender

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Taking over the reins of Reliable Transformers from my father

Biggest Ever Disappointment: The current direction the country is taking after the leadership of Nelson Mandela

Hope for the Future: That we overcome the huge challenges in our country and we all live happily ever after

Favourite Reading: I enjoy some biographies, books on current affairs and politics

Favourite TV programme: The Simpsons – I love watching it with my daughter, Lisa

Favourite Food/Drink: Mediterranean food/a good red wine

Favourite Music: Very diverse, but it depends on my mood

Favourite Sport: As a spectator – rugby (I am a big Lions supporter); as a participant – golf, on occasion

Favourite Website: News24

Hobbies: Programming/writing software

Car: My first car was a Volkswagen Jetta. I now drive a BMW X5

Pets: One Jack Russell (Charlie), two cats (Kayla and Diani), two Border Collies (Liquorice and Tammy) and several Koi fish (they, too, have names)

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Dishonest people and politicians, in general

Favourite Other South African Company: Comair, an extremely well-managed and successful company in a very challenging sector

Favourite Foreign Company: Apple

Married: To Karen, since 2003

Children: Lisa, 9

Clubs: None

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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