Full Name: Jacques du Toit
Position: CEO of Vox
Main Activity of the Company: Vox is an end-to-end integrated information and communication technology (ICT) and infrastructure provider and telecommunications company. From data to voice, as well as cloud, business collaboration and conferencing tools, Vox offers intelligent solutions that connect South Africa to the world
Date and Place of Birth: April 17, 1973, Johannesburg
Education: BCom (business), University of Pretoria
First Job: Sales consultant at Cellpro in 1994
Career History: I joined Orion Telecom as national business development manager in 1999 and quickly moved up the ranks to be appointed MD in 2008. In January 2013, I was appointed CEO of Vox. Subsequently, Vox merged all its business units into one, which saw Vox Orion, Vox Datapro, Vox Amvia, @lantic, Vox Telepreneur and Vox Pureview being consolidated into Vox Telecom
Size of First Pay Packet: R2 444 a month
First Job with Current Company: National business development manager
Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated
Number of People under Your Leadership: 1 750
Management Style: Engaging, transformational, evolving and transparent
Personal Best Achievement: My family
Professional Best Achievement: Appointment as CEO of Vox and, more recently, being voted the number one CEO in the ICT industry
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My father
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: Werner Hess – he gave me my first permanent position at Astec Communications back in 1996. I was fresh out of university and he chose to give me a chance
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Amelia Earhart – the late American aviation pioneer and author
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Thomas Edison
Philosophy of Life: Work hard and play harder and always be fair, but, above all, do it all humbly
Biggest Ever Opportunity: The opportunity to lead Vox in the role of CEO
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Life is too short for regrets and disappointments – everything happens for a reason and there is always a lesson to be learnt
Hope for the Future: Current society is in turmoil, with no one granting someone else an opportunity to prosper. Life needs to change and we need to place less focus on materialism
Favourite Author: Deon Meyer
Favourite TV Programme: Anything to do with cars, planes or hunting
Favourite Food/Drink: There is nothing like the smell of a braai – and a glass of Bells!
Favourite Music: It depends on the mood – country, classical, jazz . . .
Car: Audi
Favourite Sport: Rugby
Favourite Website: The New York Times
Hobbies: Hunting, flying and spending time with my family
Pets: English bulldog, Labrador, basset
Miscellaneous Dislikes: People who expect handouts and are not prepared to put in the hard work
Favourite Other South African Company: Bottle – I love the disruption it caused and its ability to adapt
Favourite Foreign Company: Not stated
Married: To Helene, since 1996
Children: Jacques-Lois, 19; Ruben, 15
Clubs: Virgin Active, Bulls, the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa, the Harvard Club, Stearman Club and the Johannesburg Flying Academy