Full Name: David Jacobus Strauss
Position: MD of Superior Pressure Solutions (Spress)
Main Activity of the Company: Manufacture, sales and maintenance of high-pressure equipment supplied to the greater African continent and neighbouring islands
Date and Place of Birth: May 13, 1981, Bloemfontein
Education: Secondary – Grey College; tertiary – Rand Afrikaans University (now the University of Johannesburg), CA(SA)
First Job: Auditor clerk
Career History Prior to Current Position: Deloitte, audit articles; Waco Africa, financial manager; Aveng Grinaker-LTA Mechanical & Electrical division, finance executive; VEA Group, GM of AC Electromech, an electrical and instrumentation business
Size of First Pay Packet: R6 000 a month
First Job with Present Group: GM
Management Style: Motivating people and providing strategic direction
Personal Best Achievement: Completing the Comrades Marathon in 2018
Professional Best Achievement: Being part of the dynamic team at Aveng Grinaker-LTA that turned around the Mechanical & Electrical division from a lossmaking company to being highly profitable
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My wife, Louise
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: It is difficult to mention only one, as I have been fortunate to work with many great mentors and peers
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: I would have loved to have met Nelson Mandela
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Warren Buffett
Philosophy of Life: No half measures – whatever you do, do it flat out
Biggest Ever Opportunity: The opportunity I have now to lead and grow Spress
Biggest Ever Disappointment: The fact that corruption has impacted on the economic and social growth of our beautiful country
Hope for the Future: That our country reaches its full potential; there are endless opportunities – I want my children and their children to have a future and a home in South Africa
Favourite Reading: Any good inspirational true story – I am currently reading Shoe Dog, by Phil Knight
Favourite TV Programme: SuperSport
Favourite Food/drink: Steak/brandy and Coke
Favourite Music: Rock/alternative music
Favourite Sport: Golf, rugby and soccer
Favourite Website: Google
Hobbies: Running, fishing and hunting
Car: VW Amarok
Pets: A leopard gecko and a hamster (these are my children’s pets)
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Mediocrity and procrastination
Favourite Other South African Company: Sasol
Favourite Foreign Company: Amazon
Married: To Louise, for ten years
Children: David, 8; Jona, 6; Isabella, 4
Clubs: Vitality Running Club