Full Name: Victor Marques
Position: GM of Omron South Africa
Main Activity of the Company: Manufacture and supply of industrial electronics
Date and Place of Birth: October 14, 1969, Heidelberg
Education: National diploma (electrical engineering), Wits Technikon; Business Academy, Stellenbosch University
First Job: As a high school student, I worked part-time as a warehouse stock packer at Grand Bazaars
Career History Prior to Current Position: After completing my training, I was appointed an electrical laboratory engineer at Circuit Breaker Industries – more recently, business unit manager and, prior to that, regional manager at Omron Electronics South Africa
Size of First Pay Packet: R2 400 a month
First Job with Present Group: Applications sales engineer
Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated
Number of People under Your Leadership: A growing highly skilled and specialised team of 40
Management Style: Very hands-on, team-focused, goal-driven, enabling but firm when required
Personal Best Achievement: Raising my three beautiful children with my soul mate
Professional Best Achievement: My appointment as GM of Omron South Africa
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My saviour
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My wife, Sonia
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: John Maxwell and Anthony Robbins
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla Motors, and chairperson of SolarCity
Philosophy of Life: It is all about relationships – the rest is just detail
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Our African continent
Biggest Ever Disappointment: I always look for the lessons to be learnt
Hope for the Future: A peaceful, prosperous South Africa and African continent, where children can grow up to show the world how it is done
Favourite Reading: Inspirational leadership books and tech magazines
Favourite TV Programme: News and sport
Favourite Food/Drink: All Mediterranean, Lebanese and Indian cuisine
Favourite Music: U2 and most music genres
Favourite Sport: Soccer and rugby
Favourite Website: Google
Hobbies: Working out in the gym, running
Car: BMW
Pets: A Jack Russel, Milo
Miscellaneous Dislikes: A know-it-all attitude and poor customer service
Favourite Other South African Company: Altron
Married: To Sonia, for 20 years
Children: Ethan, 17; Lucas, 13; Gabriella, 7
Clubs: Virgin Active