Johan de Villiers appointed as new CEO of Enterprise Connection
It takes a strong will and a great heart to get to the top in the IT world and it is these qualities that characterise Enterprise Connection`s newly appointed CEO Johan de Villiers.
Enterprise Connection, a subsidiary of Enterprise Group, is a black-owned IT company that provides a range of IT services the corporate and government sectors. It is a smaller concern than its rivals, and the fact that it consistently bats against the heavyweights means that it needs strong leadership to survive and prosper.
De Villiers is a highly respected personality in the IT world. He has been in the business for 17 years, of which the last seven have been with Enterprise Connection. His drive and business acumen led to his holding two positions simultaneously - director of Enterprise Connection Cape and group marketing director. Despite the demands of being CEO he will continue to lead the Enterprise Group`s marketing division.
De Villiers balances the demands of corporate life with outdoor adventure travel. He is an avid 4x4 driver who has traversed the plains and jungles of Africa on several bush expeditions. He recently completed the semi-finals of the Eco-Challenge in the Kalahari and previously reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro via the notoriously difficult Umbwe route.
His office in Cape Town seems worlds away from the African bush, but De Villiers brings the experience of teamwork and battling against adversity to his leadership positions in the jungles of IT business.
"Having been in the corporate IT industry for so many years, I have observed many different business models in terms of the mix of offering value versus volume," he says. "When I was presented with the opportunity of starting a new corporate office for Enterprise Connection in Cape Town, I did not hesitate to implement the strategies and tactics I knew would work in the region."
Adopting a full service approach rather than just box-dropping proved a successful strategy and today Enterprise Connection is based on providing "knowledgeable, integrated technology" rather than just information technology. De Villiers speaks enthusiastically about ensuring that the concern remains proactive rather than reactive in the context of providing a clearly defined specialist offering. To do this, he says, requires maintaining a focused vision and finding the best people for the job.
"My industry experience has also taught me the importance of looking after the most valued resource in your company: your people," he notes. "You can either do this or risk losing both them and your customers."
Enterprise Connection`s new CEO believes that the key to success is a single-minded commitment to clients. "We work at that relationship," he declares. De Villiers is an executive who stands out from the crowd and he intends to drive the company - and his 4x4 - to new victories in the future.
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