Full Name: Jaishwar Manilal

Position: CEO of the Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC) and acting CEO of the Supplier Park Development Centre

Main Activity of the Company: The AIDC primarily supports the Gauteng provincial government’s industrial developmental aims and objectives. Its purpose is to be the institutional mechanism focusing on effective project delivery in support of the industrial policy and other strategic initiatives within the advanced manufacturing sector

Date and Place of Birth: October 3, 1967, Umkomaas, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal

Education: Matric, 1986, Umkomaas Secondary School; BSc (Hon) Industrial Engineering; master’s degree in supply chain management; European master logistician’s certificate; ISO 14000-certified examiner; fellow, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transportation, UK

First Job: Trainee at the supply chain department of Toyota South Africa (SA)

Career History Prior to Current Position: After working in the project engineering department at Toyota SA, I became programme manager at Mercedes-Benz and supply chain manager and COO at the AIDC

Size of First Pay Packet: R550 a month

First Job with Present Group: Senior project manager in the supply chain department

Value of Assets under Your Control: About R800-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: 160

Management Style: Open-door policy and participative

Personal Best Achievement: Representing South Africa at the United Nations

Professional Best Achievement: Leading my organisation through its biggest growth phase in very difficult economic times

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My father

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: I cannot single out any one person

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Richard Branson

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Richard Branson

Philosophy of Life: Be the change that you want to see – Mahatma Gandhi; pursue excellence – vehemently oppose mediocrity and, in so doing, make excellence an attitude

Biggest Ever Opportunity: To continue to lead the AIDC and the SPDC in support of Auto Vision 2020

Biggest Ever Disappointment: None, as I do not dwell on the consequences of my decisions

Hope for the Future: Enriching the impoverished and empowering the underprivileged

Favourite Reading: Biographies

Favourite TV Programme: Suits, CSI and all the cooking channels

Favourite Food/Drink: Seafood, excluding shellfish/strawberry juice

Favourite Music: Any music that relates to events and memories in my life

Favourite Sport: Soccer – I am an ardent (but frustrated) Liverpool supporter

Favourite Website: www1.skysport.com/football

Hobbies: Reading and photography

Car: Mercedes-Benz

Pets: Enzo, my dog, who is of Timber Wolf heritage

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Destructive and malicious people

Favourite Other South African Company: Sasol

Favourite Foreign Company: Apple

Married: To Kemantha since December 30, 1990

Children: Karissen, 21; Jaison, 11; Rihaan, 4