Full Name: Johann Schleritzko
Position: MD of Beka
Main Activity of the Company: Manufacture and supply of technical lighting equipment, including streetlights, floodlights, industrial lights and decorative exterior lights
Date and Place of Birth: Janaury 6, 1952, Vienna, Austria
Education: I studied telecommunications and electronics in Vienna
First Job: Tungsram, Austria
Career History Prior to Current Position: Regional sales engineer for Philips in Namibia
Size of First Pay Packet: R500 a month
First Job with Present Group: MD, since 1981
Value of Assets under Your Control: R165-million
Number of People under Your Leadership: 320
Management Style: Informal, cooperative and inclusive
Personal Best Achievement: Immigrating to South Africa
Professional Best Achievement: Growing Beka into Africa’s biggest lighting company
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My wife
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Manfred Brand, chairperson of Brand Engineering
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Helmut Schmidt, previous Chancellor of Germany and now elder statesman
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Martin Winterkorn, MD of Volkswagen in Germany
Philosophy of Life: Make the best of life, enjoy it
Biggest Ever Opportunity: The offer to establish Beka in Windhoek, Namibia, in 1974
Biggest Ever Disappointment: None
Hope for the Future: That Africa rids itself of corrupt leaders
Favourite Reading: Online magazines
Favourite TV Programme: TV news
Favourite Food/Drink: Kingklip/Sauvignon Blanc
Favourite Music: Classical
Favourite Sport: Beach walking
Favourite Website: www.spiegel.de
Hobbies: Playing with my grandchildren
Car: VW Touareg
Pets: A dog and a cat
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Laziness and incompetence
Favourite Other South African Company: South Africa’s diversified wine producers
Favourite Foreign Company: Apple
Married: To Suzanne since May 16, 1978
Children: Peter, 33; Nadja, 29
Clubs: None