Full Name: Brian Charles Andrew

Position and Company Name: MD of RS South Africa

Main Activity of the Company: RS is an omni-channel provider and digital hub in the industrial sector offering more than 750 000 products with solutions for the design, construction, maintenance, repair and operation of industrial equipment. These solutions span maintenance, repair and operations of businesses, and assist customers in enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of their industrial equipment and operations

Date and Place of Birth: March 1967, Johannesburg

Schools and Tertiary Education: Aliwal Road Primary School, in Cape Town; Hyde Park High School, in Johannesburg; BCom, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), 1989; BAcc, Wits, 1991

First Job: Student clerk in an auditing firm

Size of First Pay Packet: R900 a month

Career Path to Date: After completing my articles with an accounting firm, I joined a client as finance manager. Thereafter, I ran my own Web-based business in computer-based training for two years before joining RS South Africa as finance manager. I was given the opportunity to lead the business after having been there for just short of two years

Value of Assets under Your Control: To me, it’s more about the people I work with and how I can help them become their best selves

Number of People under Your Leadership: 94

Management Style: Employ good people and get out of the way – you get what you measure, so measure the right things

Personal Best Achievement: Ironman and achieving Level 2 broad-based black economic empowerment status at RS

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: Professor Tim Noakes – through challenging beliefs and changing your mind based on the evidence and going against dogma

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My late father, Michael Ray Andrew, who taught me about integrity, work ethic, focus, determination, tenacity and authenticity. He was a true gentleman who made time for everyone

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: My 23-year-old self, so I could give myself some advice, especially about lifestyle

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: I don’t believe in putting anyone on a pedestal, but I try to learn from both good and bad leaders. In general, I have been impressed by authentic leaders who put people first

Philosophy of Life: Extreme ownership – I am responsible for everything in my world; pain is temporary, quitting is forever

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Being given the opportunity to lead the RS team in South Africa since 2003

Biggest Ever Disappointment: The state of our country and the lack of leadership; our education system

Hope For the Future: That we fix our economy and education system so that the country can realise its potential; peace, tolerance and embracing our diversity globally

Favourite Reading: Extreme Ownership, by Jocko Willinck and Leif Babin. I am currently listening to the Dune series of audio books by Frank Herbert

Favourite TV Programme: I do not watch much TV, just some sport

Favourite Food/Drink: All real food, especially a good ribeye steak; low carb – I avoid processed foods and all sugars

Favourite Music: It depends on my mood, but I love all music except the club/dance electronic stuff

Favourite Sport: Cycling (mountain biking, gravel and road) and some running

Hobbies: I don’t have time for hobbies – too much time spent on my bicycle and riding with my family as often as possible

Car: 2010 Toyota Fortuner

Pets: Bella (a Jack Russel)

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Arrogance, dishonesty, treating people badly, corruption and people who get someone’s name wrong, especially when they are replying to an email with the person’s name on it

Married: To Corina Leitner since October 1996

Children: Tylor, 24; Paige, 22; Connor, 20

Clubs: The Darksiders (cycling) – this is not really a club but a group that gets out riding early in the morning – as well as Club 100 Cape Town (cycling)