Chris Norton, Johannesburg-based regional director for Africa at Veeam Software
Full Name: Chris Norton
Position and Company Name: Regional director: Africa, Veeam Software, based in Johannesburg
Main Activity of the Company: Veeam Software provides organisations with resilience through data security, data recovery and data freedom for their hybrid cloud. The Veeam Data Platform delivers a single solution for cloud, virtual, physical, SaaS and Kubernetes environments
Date and Place of Birth: October 1, 1969, Johannesburg
Schools and Tertiary Education: Matric, St Stithians College; sales and marketing diploma, Wits Technikon
First Job: In the early 1980s, I had an informal job clearing tables as a runner at Mike’s Kitchen in Bryanpark. My first formal job was as a call centre agent at IBM in the early 1990s
Career History Prior to Current Position: After leaving IBM, I worked at various distribution companies in brand management and then moved into the vendor space with Citrix, where I started the business as employee Number 1, and then went on to start VMware in South Africa, also as employee Number 1. After leaving VMware, I went to ServiceNow to start the company’s South Africa office and then moved on to VCE, which was absorbed into EMC and then bought by Dell. In April 2021, I left Dell to join Veeam
Size of First Pay Packet: Less than R4 000 a month
First Job with Present Group: Regional director: Africa (my current role)
Number of People under Your Leadership: 42
Management Style: I have an open and consultative, output-orientated management style
Personal Best Achievement: I was debt free by 34
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My wife
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: A gentleman called Lewis Gee
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Lewis Hamilton
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Paul Maritz
Philosophy of Life: Happiness is not having what you want; it is wanting what you have
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Concluding a global PC deal with a multinational company for $75-million
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Losing the revenue for two massive deals because our distributor was liquidated after having been paid by the customers
Hope for the Future: That South Africa survives the current downward trend
Favourite Reading: Car Magazine or Gadget Magazine
Favourite TV Programme: I am currently watching the X-files from the start
Favourite Food/Drink: Braai with a good wine
Favourite Music: 80s music
Favourite Sport: Rugby (especially after a South Africa win)
Hobbies: Anything that has to do with the outdoors or wildlife, fly-fishing or breakfast runs
Car: Audi RS6 and Landcruiser 76
Pets: We have one rescue dog and one rescue cat
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Bad drivers and poor service
Married: I have been married to my lovely wife for more than 25 years
Children: I have two beautiful daughters
Clubs: None