Full Name: Brian Charles Andrew
Position: GM for South Africa and Southern Africa, RS Components
Main Activity of the Company: RS Components is a high-service distributor of electronics and maintenance products, while reducing the total maintenance, repair and operations procurement costs for industry
Date and Place of Birth: March 1967, Johannesburg
Education: BCom, 1989, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits); BAcc, Wits, 1991
First Job: Student clerk in an auditing firm
Career History Prior to Current Position: After completing my articles with an accounting firm, I joined a client as finance manager. Thereafter, I ran my own business in computer-based training delivered by means of the Web for two years, before joining RS Components
First Job with Present Group: Finance manager
Value of Assets under Your Control: R70-million
Number of People under Your Leadership: 94
Management Style: Employ good people and get out of the way; you get what you measure, so measure the right things
Personal Best Achievement: Ironman
Professional Best Achievement: Turning a declining business around against the odds, and building a great team
Person Who Has had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: Tim Noakes
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Jonathan Blinch, my former boss, who gave me the chance toprove myself as GM
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: My 23-year-old self, so I could give myself some advice
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Richard Branson
Philosophy of Life: Extreme ownership — I am responsible for everything in my world; pain is temporary, quitting is forever
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Leading the RS Components team in South Africa
Biggest Ever Disappointment: The current state of our country; our education system
Hope for the Future: That we fix our education system so that our country realises its full potential; peace and tolerance globally
Favourite Reading: Extreme Ownership, by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin; So, Anyway . . . (audiobook), by John Cleese
Favourite TV Programme: I do not watch much TV
Favourite Food/Drink: All real food — low carbs, nothing processed and nothing with sugar
Favourite Music: All music except the club/dance electronic stuff
Favourite Sport: Swimming, biking and running — on- and offroad
Favourite Website: TED.com
Hobbies: I am still trying to learn how to program — when I get the time
Car: 2009 Toyota Prius
Pets: Frodo (my cat), Mia (my daughter’s cat) and Kangi (my other daughter’s dog, a Jack Russell)
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Arrogance, dishonesty, treating people badly, corruption and people who get someone’s name wrong, especially when they are replying to an email with the sender's name on it
Favourite South African Company: None
Favourite Foreign Company: Raspberry Pi Foundation (www.raspberrypi.org)
Married: To Corina Leitner, since October 1996
Children: Tylor, 17; Paige, 16; Connor, 14
Clubs: Team Vitality (running and cycling), Triathlon South Africa and Central Gauteng Triathlon