Full Name: Stephen Leatherbarrow

Position: GM of Bray Controls Africa

Main Activity of the Company: Bray is a manufacturer of flow-control and automation products and accessories

Date and Place of Birth: 1971, South Africa

Education: BEng (Industrial Engineering), 1993; various business school certificates from the Gordon Institute of Business Science and the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business

First Job: Inventory management consultant

Career History Prior to Current Position: Various roles and positions in the steel industry

Size of First Pay Packet: Less than R5 000 a month

First Job with Present Group: Operations director

Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated

Number of People under Your Leadership: 15

Management Style: I lead by example, am team focused, pursue an open-door policy and seek first to understand

Personal Best Achievement: Completing a cold-water swim from Robben Island to Blouberg – twice

Professional Best Achievement: Appointment as GM of Bray Controls Africa

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

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My wife

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Formula One Team principal and CEO Toto Wolff

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Bugatti Automobiles president Stephan Winkelmann

Philosophy of Life: Try to keep the work-life balance in check; as a Christian, my outlook on life is based on the Book of Life, the Bible

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Being approached to join Bray

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Being let down by people I trusted, as well as missing the opportunity to fly on the Concorde

Hope for the Future: More love and grace in the world

Favourite Reading: Articles and books on fly-fishing

Favourite TV Programme: Documentaries; I also selectively watch programmes on Netflix and YouTube

Favourite Food/Drink: Fresh bakery products and a good chocolate/coffee and red wine

Favourite Music: A vast range of music, but U2 has been a favourite for many years

Favourite Sport: Open-water swimming

Favourite Website: My online share-trading platform and eBay

Hobbies: Fly-fishing and oil painting

Car: Toyota Land Cruiser

Pets: Jack Russells

Miscellaneous Dislikes: When things do not line up, are not level or square, and so on

Favourite Other South African Company: Discovery

Favourite Foreign Company: Toyota

Married: I have been happily married for over 25 years

Children: Two – both are currently studying at university

Clubs: The Lonehill Village Church