Full Name: Clinton Trevor Holcroft
Position: CEO of Serco Industries
Main Activity of the Company: Serco manufactures insulated and dry freight truck bodies and semi-trailers for Southern Africa’s transport and logistic sector
Date and Place of Birth: June 14, 1970, Durban, South Africa
Education: CA(SA)
First Job: Price Waterhouse South Africa
Career History Prior to Current Position: I served my articles at Price Waterhouse, before joining Serco Group in 1994. Starting as a repair branch manager, I was promoted to group financial accountant in 1996, GM in 1998, MD in 2007 and CEO in 2019
Size of First Pay Packet: About R1 500 a month
First job with Present Group: Repair branch manager for KwaZulu-Natal
Value of Assets under Your Control: Group sales of R320-million for 2021
Number of People under Your Leadership: 400
Management Style: Participative and results driven
Personal Best Achievement: Obtaining my CA(SA) qualification, being elected president of the Durban chapter of Entrepreneurs Organisation in 2021, and my family
Professional Best Achievement: Serco winning the KwaZulu-Natal Productivity SA Award in 2019 and the Gold Award at Automechanika Johannesburg for trailer thermal performance, also in 2019, and celebrating its fortieth anniversary in 2021
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My immediate family, and my wife in particular
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My father, who encouraged me to join the family business, as well as my team at Serco and my colleagues at Entrepreneurs Organisation South Africa
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Elon Musk
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Alan Mulally – he helped turn Ford around
Philosophy of Life: “If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.” This is what I say to my team when the going gets tough
Biggest Ever Opportunity: I am always looking ahead to new opportunities
Biggest Ever Disappointment: South Africa’s slide down the productivity rankings in the past few years and the fact that, while many countries are improving per capita gross domestic product, we have been struggling to grow our economy
Hope for the Future: Sustainable growth for South Africa
Favourite Reading: The latest books I have read are Excellence Wins, by Horst Schulze, and Free to Focus, by Michael Hyatt
Favourite TV Programme: I am trying to reduce watching TV but I enjoy sports
Favourite Food/Drink: Durban curry and daily health smoothie; a good wine to enjoy with friends
Favourite Music: The latest top 20
Favourite Sport: Mountain biking, golf and rugby
Favourite Website: Blinkist, Microsoft To Do and Spotify
Hobbies: Mountain biking, surfing, golf, being active
Car: BMW – I would like to go hybrid or electric when the infrastructure is better supported
Pets: A Siamese cat
Miscellaneous Dislikes: People who make excuses instead of taking ownership to get things done
Favourite Other South African Company: Naspers – for becoming a global player and because I like shopping at Takealot
Favourite Foreign Company: Apple
Married: To Wendy van Eggelen
Children: Jared and Thomas
Clubs: Entrepreneurs Organisation