Full Name: Andries van Rensburg

Position: Founder and CEO of Libstar, a JSE-listed group

Main Activity of the Company: Libstar is a leading producer and supplier of high-quality products in the consumer packaged goods industry that are marketed in South Africa and globally. Some of the well-known brands are Lancewood, Denny Mushroom and the Cape Herb & Spice Company

Date and Place of Birth: October 18, 1954, Cape Town

Education: MEng (cum laude), University of Stellenbosch; MBL (cum laude), University of South Africa

First Job: Process engineer at Sasol

Career History Prior to Current Position: I joined Sasol in 1982 and ended my career with the company as operations manager. In 1989, I took up a position with Tiger Brands, where I served as MD of subsidiaries such as Oceana Fishing, Langeberg Foods and the Tiger Brands culinary division. I launched Libstar with FD Robin Smith in 2005

Size of First Pay Packet: R450 a month

First Job with Present Group: Founder and CEO

Value of Assets under Your Control: R6-billion

Number of People under Your Leadership: 6 500 people

Management Style: I believe in a participative management style and I prize teamwork

Personal Best Achievement: My three lovely daughters and my wife

Professional Best Achievement: Turning Oceana Fishing around

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Deo Schrenk, my manager at Sasol

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: American singer-songwriter and folk rocker Bob Seger, of the Silver Bullet Band

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Thierry Dalais, cofounder and executive chairperson of Metier, a leader in the private-equity space

Philosophy of Life: The popular quote is ‘You live once’; I love the adaptation: ‘Live every day ‘cause you die once’

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Establishing Libstar

Biggest Ever Disappointment: I was a young engineer at Sasol in 1983 and, out of complete naivety, decided to override the control systems at the water treatment plant, causing roughly R10-million in damage and a production loss of about R100-million. This decision cost me a promotional opportunity for two years following the disaster

Favourite Reading: Business news titles and, of course, Engineering News. I also enjoy political and business philosophy titles

Favourite TV Programme: The sports channel

Favourite Food/Drink: A cold Sauvignon Blanc on a hot summer’s day

Favourite Music: 70s and 80s rock

Favourite Sport: Rugby – I support the Stormers and the Springboks

Favourite Website: https://www.businesslive.co.za

Hobbies: Building and restoring homes

Car: Audi Q8

Favourite Other South African Company: Naspers

Favourite Foreign Company: The Bel group, a multinational cheese marketer based in France and the world’s biggest cheese miniaturising company, which markets Laughing Cow and Babybel, and Kiri cheeses. We are the group’s sales and marketing partner in South Africa

Married: To Linda, for almost a decade

Children: Anli, Liana, Maryke