Who are SA’s leading companies with top executive managers 2011?

“The primary role of leaders is to serve, not to be served. Because if you serve your people, it goes without saying that you get more from them in return. You serve them with inspiration, and you make sure that you fight their battles for and with them, and you will be rewarded with their perspiration. The best leaders live a life of service."

– William Mzimba: Accenture

“A team of great people with a common focus and different strengths can achieve amazing things. At Berco we have built up a team of people who are the best at what they do. We have pushed for confidence, pride and will to perform while displaying humility. Debate is always welcome and once a decision has been made the entire team will back it. We are very fortunate to have a leadership team that enjoys one another’s company, are open to change and are by nature extremely competitive."

Andy van der Velde: Berco

“I always believe that things will improve. Whether you look at your personal or professional life or the history of the country… it’s easy to get sucked into current challenges."

– William Egbe: Coca-Cola South Africa

“The Africa Leadership Team is unique with complimentary skills. Each member is driven by a desire to see Africa develop and take its rightful place on the global stage. We all believe in Africa, for Africans, by Africans.

Carlman Moyo: DuPont Sub-Saharan Africa

“Eskom alone cannot meet this challenge (of ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply), but if 49 million South Africans and all companies save 10% of their electricity use, we can close the supply gap."

- Brian Dames: Eskom

“Any manager is only as good as their support staff and I believe I have an acute ability to recognise talent. Once you have recognised talent you need to provide it with the necessary means to grow. There are few things that make me more proud than in seeing an asset retained in the organisation if it is lost to my unit specifically"

- Ntsikelelo Dlulane: Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife

“Leadership is about giving people a platform to influence the environment. At Meltwater you have fairly young people who’ve been given a lot a responsibility, are thinking along strategic lines and are influencing their respective teams and offices."

- Zubair Timol: Meltwater

“Nestlé’s mission is to ‘positively influence the social environment in which we operate as a responsible corporate citizen, with regard for those environmental standards and societal aspirations which enhance quality of life"

Sullivan O’Carroll: Nestlé South Africa

“I believe in crucial conversations with appropriate colleagues, at relevant times in the business life-cycle."

- Brian Daniel: Pfizer South Africa

“This is a company that doesn’t just talk about caring for its employees: it really does invest in each employee. Management has implemented an open door policy which allows any employee to communicate openly with senior leaders."

- Gerhard Malan: Rectron

“The core of our business is innovation. The effort to build diverse revenue streams is bearing fruit."

- John Fagan: Sanofi

“‘If we work really hard to create a special environment, and to get every person as far as possible into their space of bliss, where they’re doing what they love, what ther’re good at and what is prosperous for them, then retention takes care of itself."

- Marcel Joubert and Moira O’Reilly: The Platinum Group