Full Name: Andries van Rensburg
Position: Founder and CEO of Libstar, a JSE-listed group
Main Activity of the Company: Libstar is a leading producer and supplier of high-quality products in the consumer packaged goods industry that are marketed in South Africa and globally. Some of the well-known brands are Lancewood, Denny Mushroom and the Cape Herb & Spice Company
Date and Place of Birth: October 18, 1954, Cape Town
Education: MEng (cum laude), University of Stellenbosch; MBL (cum laude), University of South Africa
First Job: Process engineer at Sasol
Career History Prior to Current Position: I joined Sasol in 1982 and ended my career with the company as operations manager. In 1989, I took up a position with Tiger Brands, where I served as MD of subsidiaries such as Oceana Fishing, Langeberg Foods and the Tiger Brands culinary division. I launched Libstar with FD Robin Smith in 2005
Size of First Pay Packet: R450 a month
First Job with Present Group: Founder and CEO
Value of Assets under Your Control: R6-billion
Number of People under Your Leadership: 6 500 people
Management Style: I believe in a participative management style and I prize teamwork
Personal Best Achievement: My three lovely daughters and my wife
Professional Best Achievement: Turning Oceana Fishing around
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Deo Schrenk, my manager at Sasol
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: American singer-songwriter and folk rocker Bob Seger, of the Silver Bullet Band
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Thierry Dalais, cofounder and executive chairperson of Metier, a leader in the private-equity space
Philosophy of Life: The popular quote is ‘You live once’; I love the adaptation: ‘Live every day ‘cause you die once’
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Establishing Libstar
Biggest Ever Disappointment: I was a young engineer at Sasol in 1983 and, out of complete naivety, decided to override the control systems at the water treatment plant, causing roughly R10-million in damage and a production loss of about R100-million. This decision cost me a promotional opportunity for two years following the disaster
Favourite Reading: Business news titles and, of course, Engineering News. I also enjoy political and business philosophy titles
Favourite TV Programme: The sports channel
Favourite Food/Drink: A cold Sauvignon Blanc on a hot summer’s day
Favourite Music: 70s and 80s rock
Favourite Sport: Rugby – I support the Stormers and the Springboks
Favourite Website: https://www.businesslive.co.za
Hobbies: Building and restoring homes
Car: Audi Q8
Favourite Other South African Company: Naspers
Favourite Foreign Company: The Bel group, a multinational cheese marketer based in France and the world’s biggest cheese miniaturising company, which markets Laughing Cow and Babybel, and Kiri cheeses. We are the group’s sales and marketing partner in South Africa
Married: To Linda, for almost a decade
Children: Anli, Liana, Maryke