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Anton Leal

9th October 2015

By: Anine Kilian

Contributing Editor Online

  

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Full Name: Anton Leal

Position: CEO of XLink Communications

Main Activity of the Company: XLink Communications is a telecoms solutions business providing services in the machine-to-machine connectivity market segment, which specialises in linking point-of-sale devices and ATMs to banks’ back-end systems

Date and Place of Birth: September 14, 1960, Johannesburg

Education: Matric, St Johns College; BCom, University of the Witwatersrand

First Job: Salesperson for Spartan Computers, 1981

Career History Prior to Current Position: I held various jobs and positions and later became CEO at Spartan Computers and Spartan Computer Rentals

Size of First Pay Packet: R800 a month, in 1981

First Job with Present Group: XLink was a new start-up, where I was salesperson, accountant and effectively MD (within a small initial team of five people)

Value of Assets under Your Control: R400-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: 130

Management Style: Creating a positive environment where each of the divisional leaders can be ‘the CEO’ of their respective area, with a creative, well-aligned progressive rewards systems – all this within a culture of organised enthusiasm

Personal Best Achievement: Having a loving, supportive wife and family

Professional Best Achievement: Being a top-five finalist in the 2014 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award programme. Other industry awards which XLink won last year include the Deloitte Best Company to Work for Award in the Telecommunications Industry category and the Frost & Sullivan M2M Technology Leadership Award

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My father, who gave me the confidence to be a fun-loving entrepreneur

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My older brother, Chris Leal, whom I worked for in the early days at Spartan Computers

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Robin Sharma

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Richard Branson

Philosophy of Life: The more you give, the more you get. I create positive encouragement wherever I go and I live life to the full

Biggest Ever Opportunity: The current XLink business and the opportunities, going forward, in the Internet of Things marketplace

Biggest Ever Disappointment: A failed asset-tracking business which was an unsuccessful 12-month venture in 2002. However, it provided a very valuable business lesson

Hope for the Future: That South Africa’s political leaders strive to give the country the leadership it deserves and stimulate and encourage entrepreneurs

Favourite Reading: While on holiday, I read thriller novels and over weekends popular car, golf and travel magazines

Favourite TV Programme: The sport channels on DStv and the occasional box office movie

Favourite Food/Drink: Italian food/fine wine

Favourite Music: David Foster-type compilations, soft rock and mellow beats

Favourite Sport: Golf, closely followed by cycling, tennis and fly-fishing

Favourite Website: My Internet banking site

Hobbies: Cooking, playing the piano, travel and sports cars

Car: Porsche

Pets: Skip, a sprightly Jack Russell

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Bullies and people who do not stick to their agreed commitments or folk with unnecessarily big egos

Favourite Other South African Company: Woolworths

Favourite Foreign Company: Google

Married: To Louise, since February 12, 1988

Children: Martin, 23; Chloe, 20

Clubs: The River Club Golf Course and Southbroom Golf Course

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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