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Barend Niemand

27th March 2015

  

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Full Name: Barend Niemand

Position: CEO of Comtest Group

Main activity of the company: Distribution of test and measurement equipment

Date and Place of Birth: Pretoria, June 22, 1969

Education: BCompt and EDP diploma, University of South Africa

First Job: Auditors articled clerk

Career History Prior to Current Position: I completed my articles in 1992 and, between 1993 and 1995, was financial manager at Fidelity Acoustics (importer and distributor of Hi-Fi equipment). I served Spescom as group financial manager between 1995 and 2004, later becoming FD of Spescom Measure Graph

Size of First Pay Packet: Not stated

First Job with Present Group: FD at its inception in 2005

Value of Assets under Your Control: R55-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: 60

Management Style: Hands-on

Personal Best Achievement: Earning my degree and diploma through part-time study, despite being dyslexic, and my family – I have proudly been married for 22 years

Professional Best Achievement: Signing up Comtest’s first acquisition

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My father, who taught me the value of commitment and integrity

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: John Wilson, for his mentorship

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Captain Nick Sloane (salvage master, who refloated the cruise ship Costa Concordia, which had run aground and capsized near Giglio, off the Italian coast)

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Brian Joffe

Philosophy of Life: Be humble and thankful, and do everything to the best of your ability

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Taking over as CEO of Comtest

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Walking away from opportunities that I knew could have been to my benefit, as well as that of others

Hope for the Future: That we grow and secure Comtest as the major player in the market

Favourite Reading: News and opinion pieces

Favourite TV Programme: Top Gear and Grand Designs

Favourite Food/Drink: Food that is rich in flavour – Italian, Thai . . . but mostly homemade food – ‘boerekos’

Favourite Music: Classical, selected rock and contemporary Christian music

Favourite Sport: Cricket and rugby

Favourite Website: Agricultural research and farm management sites, news websites

Hobbies: Nguni cattle farming and horse riding

Car: Mazda MX5 and Toyota Cruiser pick-up

Pets: Dogs and horses

Miscellaneous dislikes: Dishonesty and insincerity

Favourite Other South African Company: Bidvest

Favourite Foreign Company: Harman Kardon, a division of Harman International Industries

Married: To Clari Maré, since May 1993

Children: Josua, 18; Phia, 16; Daniel, 9

Clubs: The Nguni Breeders Association

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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