Full Name: James Holley

Position: CEO of Traxtion

Main Activity of the Company: Rail transport logistics

Date and Place of Birth: Pietermaritzburg

Education: BCom (Hons) (management accounting), Stellenbosch University; BCom (Hons) (accounting), University of KwaZulu-Natal; CA(SA)

First Job: Waiter – for four years – at the 96 Winery Road restaurant, in Stellenbosch

Career History Prior to Current Position: Articled clerk in the Financial Services department at KPMG South Africa; audit supervisor, KPMG Ireland, 2005; manager in the Corporate Finance division at KPMG South Africa, 2007; commercial manager, Grindrod Rail, 2009; GM: Grindrod Corridor Management, 2010; divisional CE, Grindrod Rail, 2011

Size of First Pay Packet: R3 700 a month

First Job with Present Group: CEO, since June 2016

Value of Assets under Your Control: About R1-billion

Number of People under Your Leadership: 325

Management Style: I do not subscribe to any style, but I run a structured, action- and deadline-driven business

Personal Best Achievement: Three healthy children and a happy family

Professional Best Achievement: Being appointed CEO at the age of 31

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

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Dave Rennie, previous CEO of Grindrod Freight Services, and John Geel, previous managing partner of KPMG Corporate Finance

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Adrian Gore (for a month of coaching on managing growth in a business)

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Adrian Gore, Sipho Maseko

Philosophy of Life: Find what you enjoy and be yourself

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Traxtion Group

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Leaving Grindrod Rail behind

Hope for the Future: Happiness

Favourite Reading: Biographies of interesting people, historical fiction (Leon Uris, Conn Iggulden)

Favourite TV Programme: Homeland

Favourite Food/Drink: Delicious steak/wine

Favourite Music: I am musically inept but I enjoy the music of Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers

Favourite Sport: Cricket, rugby and golf

Favourite Website: Daily Maverick

Hobbies: Spending time in the bushveld and playing golf

Car: A 13-year-old BMW

Pets: Calvin, a Boxer

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Stupidity and closed-mindedness

Favourite Other South African Company: Discovery

Favourite Foreign Company: None

Married: To Korina, an architect, since September 19, 2009

Children: Isabela, 7; James, 5; Mila, 9 months

Clubs: Wilbury’s Cricket Club