Full Name: Jaco Maree

Position: CEO and cofounder of WIRUlink

Main Activity of the Company: Internet and telephone services

Date and Place of Birth: October 25, 1982, Reitz, Free State

Education: Diplomas in management accounting and corporate finance

First Job: Entrepreneur selling sweets, chips and cold drinks at primary school, as there was no tuck shop at the school

Career History Prior to Current Position: I have been an entrepreneur since the age of ten

Size of First Pay Packet: Zero – I always reinvested in the next new opportunity

First Job with Present Group: Direct sales and accounting

Number of People under Your Leadership: More than 130 employees and growing

Management Style: Stay humble, be thankful, never give up, lead by example and never stop learning

Personal Best Achievement: Being a hero to my children

Professional Best Achievement: Growing a company in tough economic times

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

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My wife – she motivates me to be a better person to those around me

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Warren Buffett

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Warren Buffett

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Offering fast, reliable and affordable broadband connectivity and WIRUlink’s future prospects

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Not having started WIRUlink a few years earlier

Hope for the Future: That State-owned entities, including Eskom, and national and local government departments are able to service South Africa better

Favourite Reading: Business news and related articles

Favourite TV Programme: A good movie once in a while

Favourite Food/Drink: Any good food that is shared with great friends or family

Favourite Music: Any music that fits the moment

Favourite Sport: Doing – deep-sea fishing; watching – rugby or golf

Favourite Website: mybroadband.co.za and news24, to check the news; airbnb, to book the next breakaway; and yr.no, to check the weather during that breakaway

Hobbies: Watersport, fishing, being in the wild and spending time with loved ones

Car: A VW Amarok 4 × 4 V6 bakkie

Pets: Two dogs (beagles)

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Arrogant people that ‘know it all’

Favourite Other South African Company: Any company that looks after its staff, clients and suppliers

Favourite Foreign Company: Google Inc

Married: Yes, for almost 11 years and still going strong

Children: A son aged six and a daughter aged four

Clubs: I do not belong to specific associations or have membership of any clubs, except the gym