Engineering News: Profile of Jacques Duyver
Full name: Jacques Duyver
Position: Founder, owner and CEO of Itec Group, since 1992
Main activity of the company: Imaging technologies, multifunctional products, copiers, faxes, printers and various document management software
Date and place of birth: October 3,1963 - Cape Town
Education: Germiston High School, matriculated. 1961; University of Stellenbosch. aeronautical engineering second year
First job: Salesperson in the document solutions industry. 1993
Size of first pay packet: R900 a month
First job with present group: Founder and CEO - 1992 to 1998 as an importer and distributor of copiers, 1998 awarded rights to import into South Africa from what is today known as the Konica Minolta Group in Japan
Value of assets under your control: Approximately R750-million
Number of people under your leadership: About 700
Management style: Entrepreneurial, open door
Personal best achievement: The satisfaction and appreciation derived from the creation of 700 value-adding job opportunities and experiencing the dedication and enthusiasm of these people.
Professional best achievement: Securing the Southern African distribution rights to import product from the Konica Minolta Group in Japan
Person who has had the biggest influence on your life: Prof. Gerrie Rood, chairman of the Itec Group, who has been my mentor, not only in the business but also in my personal life.
Person who has had the biggest Influence on your career: Philip Perkins as partner and COO of Itec, and Prof. Game Rood!
Person you would most like to meet: Bill Gates, Richard Branson, Johan Rupert and Nelson Mandela
Businessperson who has impressed you most: Richard Branson
Philosophy of life: To be idle is a short road to death and to be diligent is a way of life - foolish people are idle: wise people are diligent
Biggest ever opportunity: Being able to live the life of a successful entrepreneur
Biggest ever disappointment: The slow pace of developing entrepreneurship in South Africa
Hope for the future: Mobilising the full potential of each and every individual South African in a vibrant, stable and truly democratic country
Favourite reading: A variety of subjects from aeronautics to genetics, history, the environment and spirituality
Favourite TV programme: Documentaries and news, BBC, Discovery, National Geographic and History Channel
Favourite food and drink: Eastern cuisine, such as Thai. Indian. Malay and Japanese, and Belgian chocolate and beer
Favourite music: Popular music of the day
Favourite sport: Skiing and tennis
Favourite website: www.itecgroup.co.za
Hobbles: Skiing, tennis, hiking, nature, bush, hunting, planes, fast cars, riding my Haney. watches, beautiful houses, travel and socialising
Car: Mercedes-Benz SLK. Land Rover & Harley Davidson
Miscellaneous dislikes: Cheap talk
Favourite other South African company: The Rupert business empire
Favourite foreign company: Boeing. Airbus. Microsoft and the Virgin Group
Married: Single Children: Chantal. 19
Clubs: Member of various informal shared-interest groups