Full Name: Clive Richard Smith

Position: CEO, Tsebo Outsourcing Group

Main Activity of the Company: Operational execution of outsourced noncore functions for clients ranging from facilities management to cleaning and catering

Date and Place of Birth: March 6, 1961, Cape Town

Education: I obtained an Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators qualification back in the 1980s

First Job: Trainee accountant at Dairybelle, in 1985

Career History Prior to Current Position: I was an accountant and a financial manager at various firms joining Fedics and moving into operations, procurement and then general management within the group

Size of First Pay Packet: R900 a month

First Job with Present Group: Financial manager

Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated

Number of People under Your Leadership: 14 000 employees – but we have lots of leaders in the team

Management Style: Analytical, expressive and driver, according to one of the surveys

Personal Best Achievement: Watching my children grow up into honourable, hard-working people with values

Professional Best Achievement: Most achievements are achieved through others and the team – we have had various good achievements, ranging from great growth to managing and buying businesses

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: Many people – I try to learn something from everybody

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: The previous group CEO

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Jacques Gusteau, the father of scuba diving and exploration of the sea

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: One of our empowerment joint venture partners – he has wisdom, patience, incredible intelligence and can sell ice to Eskimos

Philosophy of Life: Enjoy your work and make it a hobby; try everything in life as soon as you can before it's too late

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Being part of a leveraged buy-out

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Our current trading results in the middle of a recession

Hope for the Future: That I continue to have good health and friends to share it with

Favourite Reading: Sun Tsu the Art of War for Executives

Favourite TV Programme: CSI, preferably New York

Favourite Food/Drink: Kabeljou/a glass of good white wine

Favourite Music: My wife would say commercial junk since I am tone deaf

Favourite Sport: Motor racing – participating, not watching

Favourite Website: Fin24.com

Hobbies: Scuba diving with my daughter, and motor racing with my friends

Car: A weakness is exposed here – Landrover Discovery daily, and a Porsche 911 to play, plus a racing car

Pets: Two dogs

Miscellaneous Dislikes: When people say it can’t be done, I get annoyed instantly

Favourite Other South African Company: We have many, many customers, so we have lots of  favourites

Favourite Foreign Company: Not stated

Married: Emma Salmons, February 18, 1989

Children: Lauren, 17; Michaela, 13

Clubs: Country Club Johannesburg, Porsche Club