Full Name: David Meintjes
Position: CEO of Telviva
Main Activity of the Company: Cloud communication
Date and Place of Birth: June 21, 1961
Education: BCom, BCom (Hons) and MCom degrees in business management, all obtained from the old Rand Afrikaans University (now the University of Johannesburg – UJ)
First Job: Bank teller
Career History Prior to Current Position: I worked for Korbitec Holdings as its COO
Size of First Pay Packet: R247 a month
First Job with Present Group: MD, in 2009
Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated
Number of People under Your Leadership: 125
Management Style: Consultative
Personal Best Achievement: Being named the Sportsperson of the Year at UJ in 1984
Professional Best Achievement: Putting my energy into the businesses I have been involved in
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My wife, Jenni
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Mendel Karpul – business entrepreneur extraordinaire
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Gaudi – inspirational and creative genius
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Sanlam Group CE Ian Kirk
Philosophy of Life: You do what you believe you can do
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Making friends and keeping them
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Investing in international technology companies at the height of the hype in 1998. The meltdown was worse than Bitcoin last year
Hope for the Future: A fair, honest and just South Africa
Favourite Reading: Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand
Favourite TV Programme: Series – Velvet
Favourite Food/Drink: Lamb curry/Raats Chenin Blanc
Favourite Music: Wonderful Life, by Thabo Mdluli, and What a Wonderful World, by Louis Armstrong
Favourite Sport: Water polo
Favourite Website: Wall Street Journal
Hobbies: Playing golf, mountain biking, reading
Car: Land Rover
Pets: Our neighbours’ cat
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Dishonest and selfish people
Favourite Other South African Company: Woolworths
Favourite Foreign Company: Toyota
Married: To Jenni Meintjes
Children: Ilan, Ben and Jannike
Clubs: Golf, water polo