Full Name: James Holley
Position: CEO of Traxtion
Main Activity of the Company: Rail transport logistics
Date and Place of Birth: Pietermaritzburg
Education: BCom (Hons) (management accounting), Stellenbosch University; BCom (Hons) (accounting), University of KwaZulu-Natal; CA(SA)
First Job: Waiter – for four years – at the 96 Winery Road restaurant, in Stellenbosch
Career History Prior to Current Position: Articled clerk in the Financial Services department at KPMG South Africa; audit supervisor, KPMG Ireland, 2005; manager in the Corporate Finance division at KPMG South Africa, 2007; commercial manager, Grindrod Rail, 2009; GM: Grindrod Corridor Management, 2010; divisional CE, Grindrod Rail, 2011
Size of First Pay Packet: R3 700 a month
First Job with Present Group: CEO, since June 2016
Value of Assets under Your Control: About R1-billion
Number of People under Your Leadership: 325
Management Style: I do not subscribe to any style, but I run a structured, action- and deadline-driven business
Personal Best Achievement: Three healthy children and a happy family
Professional Best Achievement: Being appointed CEO at the age of 31
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Dave Rennie, previous CEO of Grindrod Freight Services, and John Geel, previous managing partner of KPMG Corporate Finance
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Adrian Gore (for a month of coaching on managing growth in a business)
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Adrian Gore, Sipho Maseko
Philosophy of Life: Find what you enjoy and be yourself
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Traxtion Group
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Leaving Grindrod Rail behind
Hope for the Future: Happiness
Favourite Reading: Biographies of interesting people, historical fiction (Leon Uris, Conn Iggulden)
Favourite TV Programme: Homeland
Favourite Food/Drink: Delicious steak/wine
Favourite Music: I am musically inept but I enjoy the music of Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers
Favourite Sport: Cricket, rugby and golf
Favourite Website: Daily Maverick
Hobbies: Spending time in the bushveld and playing golf
Car: A 13-year-old BMW
Pets: Calvin, a Boxer
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Stupidity and closed-mindedness
Favourite Other South African Company: Discovery
Favourite Foreign Company: None
Married: To Korina, an architect, since September 19, 2009
Children: Isabela, 7; James, 5; Mila, 9 months
Clubs: Wilbury’s Cricket Club