Full Name: David Jacobus Strauss

Position: MD of Superior Pressure Solutions (Spress)

Main Activity of the Company: Manufacture, sales and maintenance of high-pressure equipment supplied to the greater African continent and neighbouring islands

Date and Place of Birth: May 13, 1981, Bloemfontein

Education: Secondary – Grey College; tertiary – Rand Afrikaans University (now the University of Johannesburg), CA(SA)

First Job: Auditor clerk

Career History Prior to Current Position: Deloitte, audit articles; Waco Africa, financial manager; Aveng Grinaker-LTA Mechanical & Electrical division, finance executive; VEA Group, GM of AC Electromech, an electrical and instrumentation business

Size of First Pay Packet: R6 000 a month

First Job with Present Group: GM

Management Style: Motivating people and providing strategic direction

Personal Best Achievement: Completing the Comrades Marathon in 2018

Professional Best Achievement: Being part of the dynamic team at Aveng Grinaker-LTA that turned around the Mechanical & Electrical division from a lossmaking company to being highly profitable

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My wife, Louise

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: It is difficult to mention only one, as I have been fortunate to work with many great mentors and peers

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: I would have loved to have met Nelson Mandela

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Warren Buffett

Philosophy of Life: No half measures – whatever you do, do it flat out

Biggest Ever Opportunity: The opportunity I have now to lead and grow Spress

Biggest Ever Disappointment: The fact that corruption has impacted on the economic and social growth of our beautiful country

Hope for the Future: That our country reaches its full potential; there are endless opportunities – I want my children and their children to have a future and a home in South Africa

Favourite Reading: Any good inspirational true story – I am currently reading Shoe Dog, by Phil Knight

Favourite TV Programme: SuperSport

Favourite Food/drink: Steak/brandy and Coke

Favourite Music: Rock/alternative music

Favourite Sport: Golf, rugby and soccer

Favourite Website: Google

Hobbies: Running, fishing and hunting

Car: VW Amarok

Pets: A leopard gecko and a hamster (these are my children’s pets)

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Mediocrity and procrastination

Favourite Other South African Company: Sasol

Favourite Foreign Company: Amazon

Married: To Louise, for ten years

Children: David, 8; Jona, 6; Isabella, 4

Clubs: Vitality Running Club