Full Name: Rory Peter Beattie
Position: Customer services director of Jaguar Land Rover South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa (JLRSA & SSA) since July 2013
Main Activity of the Company: Automotive
Date and Place of Birth: Johannesburg, South Africa
Education: Rand Park High School, matric; Johannesburg Technical College, curriculum-based modular training to Level 4 (completed in conjunction with the Land Rover Academy); Roodepoort Technical College, N1 and N2
First Job: Sandton Land Rover, apprentice technician, January 12, 1998, to March 19, 2001
Size of First Pay Packet: R800 a month
First Job with Present Group: JLRSA, automotive diagnostic specialist, December 2005
Career History Prior to Current Position: Land Rover Sandton, apprentice technician, 1998 to 2001; HR Owen Land Rover, London, 2001 to 2005; Land Rover South Africa, December 2005; GM: aftersales, BMW Lyndhurst, July 2011 to March 2012; technical services manager, JLRSA & SSA, April 2012 to June 2013; customer services director, JLRSA & SSA, July 2013 to date
Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated
Number of People under Your Leadership: 44
Management Style: Engagement with the team, and having a clear direction of strategy, with empowerment
Personal Best Achievement: I played for the South African ice hockey Under 20 team at the age of 15 (and was assistant captain)
Professional Best Achievement: My current role as customer services director
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My colleagues at HR Owen Land Rover, in London; my father
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Fernando Alonso
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Ewan Wilson; Jeff Smith
Philosophy of Life: Create your own destiny
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Moving from South Africa to the UK and starting a career with HR Owen Land Rover in London
Biggest Ever Disappointment: My mother not being here to see me in my current position as a director or being married and settled
Hope for the Future: That I become MD of a region within JLR’s global market
Favourite Reading: The KPI Book: The Ultimate Guide to Understanding the Key Performance Indicators of Your Business; Be Our Guest: Perfecting the Art of Customer Service
Favourite TV Programme: Motorsport F1
Favourite Food/Drink: Pork sausages, pizza/Heineken
Favourite Music: A wide variety, including Parlotones, Johnny Cash, Snow Patrol and Ocean Colour Scene
Favourite Sport: Motorsport (participating) and Formula 1 (watching)
Favourite Website: Google
Hobbies: Motorsport, snow boarding
Car: Jaguar F-Type
Pets: A Husky named Alaska
Miscellaneous Dislikes: People who lack integrity and/or the courage to stand up for their beliefs
Favourite other South African company: Vodacom
Favourite Foreign Company: McLaren F1
Married: Not yet, but watch this space
Children: None
Clubs: Zwartkops Owners Club (ZOC)