Photo by: Dylan Slater
Full Name: Frederick Botha
Position: Group CEO of JSE-listed Insimbi Refractory & Alloy Supplies
Main Activity of the Company: Nonferrous metals
Date and Place of Birth: April 30, 1964, Johannesburg
Education: CA(SA)
First Job: Auditor at what is now PwC Cape Town
Size of First Pay Packet: R500 a month
First Job with Present Group: Group commercial director
Value of Assets under Your Control: R800-million
Number of People under Your Leadership: About 300
Management Style: Quite relaxed – I am not a ‘hierarchy’ person and become involved and interact at all levels
Personal Best Achievement: Being appointed group CEO
Professional Best Achievement: Becoming a chartered accountant
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: No specific person, but definitely my wife and children
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Myself
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Sir Richard Branson
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Sir Richard Branson
Philosophy of Life: The harder I work, the luckier I get
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Management buyout of current group, in 2003
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Our share price not following our financial achievements
Hope for the Future: Further expansion of our group through acquisition to ‘exit’ the small-cap space
Favourite Reading: Any crime or spy novel and nature magazines
Favourite TV Programme: Homeland
Favourite Food/Drink: Sauvignon Blanc
Favourite Music: Rock
Favourite Sport: Mountain biking
Favourite Website: Probably news24.com
Hobbies: Walking, wakeboarding
Car: Toyota Landcruiser VX 200
Pets: A Rottweiler
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Smoking, laziness, inefficiency, poor time management
Favourite Other South African Company: Steinhoff (okay, that’s a joke), Bidvest
Favourite Foreign Company: Tesla
Married: To Hayley Botha, since January 5, 1995
Children: Brittany, 19; twins Alexander and Cameron, 15
Clubs: None