Full Name: Johan van den Berg

Position: MD of Averda South Africa

Main Activity of the Company: Integrated waste management solutions

Date and Place of Birth: September 1967, Mokopane, Limpopo

Education: BCompt (accounting sciences), CA (SA)

First Job: Articled clerk

Career History Prior to Current Position: I spent over ten years in professional practice in South Africa, followed by five years in Australia. On returning to South Africa, I worked in the mining sector, becoming head of finance for Gold Fields international operations. Thereafter, I was appointed CFO of a junior gold mining company and group FD of a Canadian-listed copper producer. I subsequently joined Averda during its acquisition of Wasteman in South Africa

Size of First Pay Packet: R495 a month

First Job with Present Group: FD

Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated

Number of People under Your Leadership: About 3 000

Management Style: Owing to my background in professional services, my management style is best described as participative and robustly guided. I always encourage my teams to take ownership and to self-improve

Personal Best Achievement: Not stated

Professional Best Achievement: Developing teams and adding value during my career to date

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My father – he built a tractor in 1956, aged 16. The tractor outperformed tractors from all manufacturers at the agricultural show that year in the North West. He demonstrated that anything is possible if you have the right mindset

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Nick Holland, current CEO and former CFO of Gold Fields

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Elon Musk

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Kevin Sheehan, former CEO of Norweign Cruise Lines – he turned the company around completely

Philosophy of Life: It is best summed up by what Steve Jobs said: “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.”

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Not stated

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Not stated

Hope for the Future: That we South Africans deliver on the vision for South Africa that Nelson Mandela imagined: a country that can be like a microcosm of the new world

Favourite Reading: I am currently reading The Founder’s Mentality: How to Overcome the Predictable Crises of Growth, by Chris Zook and James Allen. I also enjoy fiction linked to actual historical times.

Favourite TV Programme: Discovery and Supersport.

Favourite Food/Drink: Well-grilled tuna paired with a good Pinotage

Favourite Music: Classical as well as music from the 60s and 80s

Favourite Sport: Cricket and rugby (watching) and cycling

Favourite Website: EWN and Business Day (Bdlive)

Hobbies: Renovating properties

Car: Porsche

Pets: An Irish terrier, Genius, and a strong-willed Yorkie, Impi

Miscellaneous Dislikes: People acting without integrity

Favourite Other South African Company: Discovery

Favourite Foreign Company: Tesla

Married: To Ansie, since 1989

Children: Jan-Hendrik, 30; Johann, 24

Clubs: Pretoria Country Club