Full Name: Glenn Llewellyn Geldenhuis

Position: CEO of AutoX, since 2010

Main Activity of the Company: AutoX is a manufacturer and distributor of leading automotive battery brands, including Willard, Sabat and Varta

Date and Place of Birth: April 17, 1956, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Education: BEng (electronics) and BEng (Hons), University of Pretoria; MBL, University of South Africa School for Business Leadership

First Job: Design engineer at Kentron

Career History Prior to Current Position: CEO: manufacturing at Dawn, executive director at Group Five Construction and MD at DPI Holdings, Silverton Engineering and Connoisseur Auto Air Conditioning, as well as various positions at Kentron – from design engineer to market group manager

Size of First Pay Packet: R600 a month, in 1980

First Position with Present Group: CEO

Value of Assets under Your Control: R740-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: 660

Management Style: Approachable, participative, strategic and results driven

Personal Best Achievement: Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro after a head-on vehicle accident

Professional Best Achievement: Exceptional growth at Connoisseur, DPI and AutoX and the turnaround of Silverton Engineering

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

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: People who gave me the support and opportunities to grow and develop

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Bill Gates

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Steven Jobs

Philosophy of Life: Always do your best and remember that life is not a dress rehearsal – make the best of it

Greatest Ever Opportunity: Building AutoX with a fantastic and committed team of people

Biggest Ever Disappointment: I never dwell on disappointments – they only make us stronger

Hope for the Future: An economically thriving and united South Africa

Favourite Reading: Business reading, and fiction when time allows

Favourite TV Programme: News, Discovery and National Geographic

Favourite Food/Drink: Seafood, steak and wine

Favourite Music: Classical

Favourite Sport: Rugby and cricket

Favourite Website: Google.com

Hobbies: Photography, travel and wildlife

Car: BMW X5

Pets: A family cat named Gypsy

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Dishonest and lazy people

Favourite Other South African Company: Naspers

Favourite Foreign Company: Microsoft

Married: To Ilse Grobbelaar, since 1979

Children: Mariska, 32; Natasha, 26

Clubs: Virgin Active