Full Name: Johan van den Berg
Position: MD of Averda South Africa
Main Activity of the Company: Integrated waste management solutions
Date and Place of Birth: September 1967, Mokopane, Limpopo
Education: BCompt (accounting sciences), CA (SA)
First Job: Articled clerk
Career History Prior to Current Position: I spent over ten years in professional practice in South Africa, followed by five years in Australia. On returning to South Africa, I worked in the mining sector, becoming head of finance for Gold Fields international operations. Thereafter, I was appointed CFO of a junior gold mining company and group FD of a Canadian-listed copper producer. I subsequently joined Averda during its acquisition of Wasteman in South Africa
Size of First Pay Packet: R495 a month
First Job with Present Group: FD
Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated
Number of People under Your Leadership: About 3 000
Management Style: Owing to my background in professional services, my management style is best described as participative and robustly guided. I always encourage my teams to take ownership and to self-improve
Personal Best Achievement: Not stated
Professional Best Achievement: Developing teams and adding value during my career to date
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My father – he built a tractor in 1956, aged 16. The tractor outperformed tractors from all manufacturers at the agricultural show that year in the North West. He demonstrated that anything is possible if you have the right mindset
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Nick Holland, current CEO and former CFO of Gold Fields
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Elon Musk
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Kevin Sheehan, former CEO of Norweign Cruise Lines – he turned the company around completely
Philosophy of Life: It is best summed up by what Steve Jobs said: “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.”
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Not stated
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Not stated
Hope for the Future: That we South Africans deliver on the vision for South Africa that Nelson Mandela imagined: a country that can be like a microcosm of the new world
Favourite Reading: I am currently reading The Founder’s Mentality: How to Overcome the Predictable Crises of Growth, by Chris Zook and James Allen. I also enjoy fiction linked to actual historical times.
Favourite TV Programme: Discovery and Supersport.
Favourite Food/Drink: Well-grilled tuna paired with a good Pinotage
Favourite Music: Classical as well as music from the 60s and 80s
Favourite Sport: Cricket and rugby (watching) and cycling
Favourite Website: EWN and Business Day (Bdlive)
Hobbies: Renovating properties
Car: Porsche
Pets: An Irish terrier, Genius, and a strong-willed Yorkie, Impi
Miscellaneous Dislikes: People acting without integrity
Favourite Other South African Company: Discovery
Favourite Foreign Company: Tesla
Married: To Ansie, since 1989
Children: Jan-Hendrik, 30; Johann, 24
Clubs: Pretoria Country Club