Full Name: Alexis William Barwise

Position: MD of DEHN Protection South Africa

Main Activity of the Company: Lightning and surge protection, earthing components and safety equipment manufacturer

Date and Place of Birth: December 3, 1985, Pietersburg

Education: BEng (electrical and electronic), North-West University, 2003 to 2007

First Job: Electrical design engineer

Career History Prior to Current Position: Electrical design engineer, systems engineer, strategic account manager and key account manager

Size of First Pay Packet: Not stated

First Job with Present Group: MD of DEHN Protection South Africa

Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated

Number of People under Your Leadership: Six

Management Style: Entrepreneurial, motivational, leading by example and being appreciative of the role of every person on my team

Personal Best Achievement: The birth of my son on July 3, 2012

Professional Best Achievement: Receiving the EMEA Order of Merit, 2011 to 2013

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My family and friends

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Jonathan Duncan, director of the information technology business for Central, North and East Africa at Schneider Electric

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Helmut Pusch, manager of the technical advisory department at DEHN + SÖHNE

Philosophy of Life: If your dream does not scare you, it is not big enough

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Designing, constructing and commissioning of the JSE’s Tier 3 data centre

Biggest Ever Disappointment: The Klusener/Donald mix-up in the cricket World Cup semifinals in 1999

Hope for the Future: That DEHN Protection South Africa succeeds beyond expectations

Favourite Reading: White Papers

Favourite TV Programme: One Tree Hill

Favourite Food/Drink: Braaivleis

Favourite Music: Coldplay

Favourite Sport: Cricket

Favourite Website: Wikipedia

Hobbies: 4 × 4 off-road driving, cricket and bow-fishing

Car: Land Rover Discovery 3

Pets: Two cats (Pancakes and Flapjacks)

Miscellaneous Dislikes: People who think they are better than others

Favourite Other South African Company: Cape Union Mart

Favourite Foreign Company: Schneider-Electric

Married: To Manuela Mossburger since June 16, 2011

Children: Ben Barwise, one-year old

Clubs: None