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