Full Name: Mark Wilson

Position: MD of Syspro Africa

Main Activity of the Company: Syspro is an enterprise resource planning solutions provider

Date and Place of Birth: February 4, 1967

Education: Chartered Institute of Management Accountants qualification, which was completed in 1993

First Job: Costing clerk at Saftainer

Career History Prior to Current Position: A total of 21 years’ continuous employment – from Siemens to Fujitsu Siemens Computers and, finally, Fujitsu

Size of First Pay Packet: R1 500 a month

First Job with Present Group: Current position

Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated

Number of People under Your Leadership: Not stated

Management Style: I have a democratic leadership style, which, I believe, leads to higher motivation and improved morale, increased cooperation between staff and management, improved job performance and a reduction in grievances, absenteeism and employee turnover

Personal Best Achievement: Friendships that have spanned many decades and a supportive, wonderful wife who has given me two children

Professional Best Achievement: Being appointed VP of a large multinational, with responsibility for various regions

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My parents, both of whom have strong values but different life philosophies, which allowed me to see life from different viewpoints and help me draw my own conclusion

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Two people who created the opportunity for me to be a very young MD and, above all, empowered me

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Ernie Els, a true professional who has not forgotten his roots and is truly a global ambassador for South Africa. The work he is doing with his Autism Foundation is inspirational

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Steve Jobs

Philosophy of Life: Set a goal and persevere – persevere until you achieve

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Being the VP of a multinational overseeing various regions

Biggest Ever Disappointment: As you go through life, there are many disappointments, depending on the stage of your life. As they come up, put them down to lessons learnt and move on

Hope for the Future: I truly believe in the future of this country, and its people give me hope with their day-to-day aspiration and empathy to make the environment we live in a better place

Favourite Reading: Easy reading – Lee Child fits into that space

Favourite TV programme: I rarely seriously watch TV, but, when I do, I tend to like BBC shows like George Gently and Vera

Favourite Food/Drink: Fine dining, especially when it is accompanied by a good bottle of wine

Favourite Music: Everything from Johnny Cash to the Pogues to Pink

Favourite Sport: Football, especially the English Premier Soccer League

Favourite Website: The Financial Times

Hobbies: Golf

Car: Mercedes-Benz Convertible

Pets: Two dogs

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Negative people

Favourite Other South African Company: The manufacturers that survive and succeed while government ignores the Asian invasion into the South African market

Favourite Foreign Company: Any business that is driving disruption in the market and will forever change the world

Married: To Sandra Pereira

Children: Julian, 12; Bela, 11

Clubs: Not stated