Full Name: Siegfried Kreutzfeld

Position: CEO, Zest WEG Group Africa

Main Activity of the Company: Zest WEG Group’s offering includes low- and high-voltage electric motors, vibrator motors, variable-speed drives, soft starters, power and distribution transformers, MCCs, containerised substations, mini substations, diesel generator sets, switchgear, cogeneration and energy solutions, as well as electrical and instrumentation engineering and project management services

Date and Place of Birth: October 16, 1955, Blumenau, Brazil

Education: I hold an electrical engineering degree and a master’s degree in rotating electrical machines and have also completed a business administration management course with Kellogs University (Chicago), among others

First Job: Electrical engineer: electrical projects

Career History Prior to Current Position: I have held management positions in product development and research and development and have also been chief engineering officer and MD of WEG Motors Business Unit and MD of WEG China before being appointed CEO of Zest WEG Group Africa, based in South Africa

Size of First Pay Packet: $1 000 a month (equivalent to about R14 000 a month)

First Job with Present Group: Electrical engineer: electrical projects, 1979

Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated

Number of People under Your Leadership: 720

Management Style: It depends on the context, but my management style is mostly democratic

Personal Best Achievement: I am the first in my family to graduate with an engineering degree

Professional Best Achievement: As an engineer who is dedicated to design and training, I think my biggest achievement is that I have trained about 2 000 engineers at WEG

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My father

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Werner Voigt, the ‘W’ in WEG – sadly, he passed away last year

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: If I could go back in time, it would be Albert Einstein

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Jack Ma

Philosophy of Life: Continuous learning

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Any problem is an opportunity to learn and make improvements

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Hypocrisy

Hope for the Future: Better understanding of how life works

Favourite Reading: Quantum physics, philosophy and mind-related topics

Favourite TV Programme: National Geographic

Favourite Food/Drink: Steak and caipirinha (Brazilian national drink)

Favourite Music: Romantic rock

Favourite Sport: Chess

Favourite Website: Google

Hobbies: Reading and travelling

Car: Toyota FJ Cruiser

Pets: Dogs

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Hypocrisy

Favourite Other South African Company: Not stated

Favourite Foreign Company: Apple

Married: No

Children: Son Siegfried Kreutzfeld Neto, 37, and daughter Shirlley Kreutzfeld, 27

Clubs: Not Stated