Full Name: Kostas Rontiris
Position: CEO of SMEC South Africa
Main Activity of the Company: SMEC is a multidisciplinary consulting engineering company
Date and Place of Birth: July 9, 1955, Athens, Greece
Education: BSc (civil engineering), 1978; MSc (highway and traffic engineering), 1979
First Job: Site engineer, Murray & Roberts
Career History Prior to Current Position: Strategic business development executive, SMEC, 2012 to 2014; technical director, SMEC, 2010 to 2012; MD, Atkins International, Greece, 2004 to 2010; operations manager, Atkins, 2002 to 2004; director, VKE, 1994 to 2001; associate, VKE, 1989 to 1994; transportation engineer, VKE, 1984 to 1989; site engineer, M&R, 1982 to 1984
Size of First Pay Packet: R950 a month
First Job with Present Group: Transportation engineer
Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated
Number of People under Your Leadership: 1 000
Management Style: Democratic, based on extensive communication
Personal Best Achievement: A happy, loving and supportive family
Professional Best Achievement: Project-managing the transportation plan for the Cape Town Olympic Games bid
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My father, who was a successful civil engineer and a people’s person
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Different people at different stages of my career
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Patrice Motsepe
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Bill Gates
Philosophy of Life: Live every day to the fullest – work hard, play hard
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Moving to South Africa in 1982
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Being let down by someone I trusted
Hope for the Future: Peace and stability in Africa
Favourite Reading: Autobiographies of successful people
Favourite TV Programme: News and documentaries
Favourite Food/Drink: Greek lamb on the spit/South African Cabernet Sauvignon
Favourite Music: Rock music from the 1970s and 1980s
Favourite Sport: Rugby and European football
Favourite Website: News websites
Hobbies: Golf and gardening
Car: Jeep Cherokee
Pets: A German shepherd
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Arrogance and people who blame others for their own incompetence
Favourite Other South African Company: Famous Brands
Favourite Foreign Company: Apple
Married: To Aliki, since December 9, 1984
Children: Stacey, 26; Alexia, 24
Clubs: None