Full Name: Glenn Llewellyn Geldenhuis
Position: CEO of AutoX, since 2010
Main Activity of the Company: AutoX is a manufacturer and distributor of leading automotive battery brands, including Willard, Sabat and Varta
Date and Place of Birth: April 17, 1956, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Education: BEng (electronics) and BEng (Hons), University of Pretoria; MBL, University of South Africa School for Business Leadership
First Job: Design engineer at Kentron
Career History Prior to Current Position: CEO: manufacturing at Dawn, executive director at Group Five Construction and MD at DPI Holdings, Silverton Engineering and Connoisseur Auto Air Conditioning, as well as various positions at Kentron – from design engineer to market group manager
Size of First Pay Packet: R600 a month, in 1980
First Position with Present Group: CEO
Value of Assets under Your Control: R740-million
Number of People under Your Leadership: 660
Management Style: Approachable, participative, strategic and results driven
Personal Best Achievement: Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro after a head-on vehicle accident
Professional Best Achievement: Exceptional growth at Connoisseur, DPI and AutoX and the turnaround of Silverton Engineering
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: Family and friends
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: People who gave me the support and opportunities to grow and develop
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Bill Gates
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Steven Jobs
Philosophy of Life: Always do your best and remember that life is not a dress rehearsal – make the best of it
Greatest Ever Opportunity: Building AutoX with a fantastic and committed team of people
Biggest Ever Disappointment: I never dwell on disappointments – they only make us stronger
Hope for the Future: An economically thriving and united South Africa
Favourite Reading: Business reading, and fiction when time allows
Favourite TV Programme: News, Discovery and National Geographic
Favourite Food/Drink: Seafood, steak and wine
Favourite Music: Classical
Favourite Sport: Rugby and cricket
Favourite Website: Google.com
Hobbies: Photography, travel and wildlife
Car: BMW X5
Pets: A family cat named Gypsy
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Dishonest and lazy people
Favourite Other South African Company: Naspers
Favourite Foreign Company: Microsoft
Married: To Ilse Grobbelaar, since 1979
Children: Mariska, 32; Natasha, 26
Clubs: Virgin Active