Full Name: Neil Cameron

Position: Area GM at Johnson Controls Building Efficiency Africa (JCBEA)

Main Activity of the Company: JCBEA is a provider of equipment, controls and services for heating, ventilating, air conditioning, refrigeration and security systems. We deliver products, services and solutions that increase energy efficiency and lower operating costs in buildings for more than one-million customers

Date and Place of Birth: January 10, 1969, Johannesburg

Education: University of Pretoria, MSc, BSc (Hon) and BTech

First Job: Toy packer at Game Store

Career History Prior to Current Position: I was previously an engineering specialist at the SABC

Size of First Pay Packet: R400 a month

First Job with Present Group: Divisional manager: controls, responsible for bringing innovative solutions into African markets

Value of Assets under Your Control: R600-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: 200 – in South Africa, the UK and France

Management Style: I create goals for staff while supporting them and having a high level of expectation and support from each member
Personal Best Achievement: Receiving the highest marks in South Africa for all three of my degrees and coming fourth in South Africa for Motor-X

Professional Best Achievement: In 2012, we achieved the group’s highest profit for developing markets

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My Motor-X coach – he corrected some of my wayward ways.

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Agostino Renna, when he was the sales VP for Johnson Controls Europe, Middle East and Africa

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Jack Welsh

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: John Reed, a former GM at Johnson Controls

Philosophy of Life: Hardship often prepares an ordinary person for an extraordinary destiny – CS Lewis

Biggest Ever Opportunity: I am still waiting for it

Biggest Ever Disappointment: I am still waiting for that too

Hope for the Future: That crime in South Africa is reduced significantly and that the country develops its infrastructure to become a world-leading economy

Favourite Reading: David Gemmel for leisure reading and Jim Collins or Stephen Covey for more work-related reading

Favourite TV Programme: Top Gear and ESPN

Favourite Food/Drink: Chateaubriand steak (rare) and a glass of good red wine

Favourite Music: Dire Straits

Favourite Sport: Motor-X or any game played by the Springboks, Proteas or Bafana Bafana

Favourite Website: www.news24.co.za and businessday.co.za

Hobbies: Listening to 1980s music in the company of friends

Car: Land Rover Discovery

Pets: Two cats, two dogs and a snake

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Negativity

Favourite Other South African Company: Bidvest or the Imperial group

Favourite Foreign Company: Google

Married: To Noleen, since 1991

Children: Scott, 18; Tyron, 15; Mitchell, 10

Clubs: Virgin Active