Full Name: Charl Lensley

Position and Company Name: B2B On sales director at Michelin Tyre Company of South Africa

Main Activity of the Company: Commercial agency for Michelin tyres and services

Date and Place of Birth: June 21, 1979, Kempton Park, Gauteng

Schools and Tertiary Education: Matric, Kempton High School, 1997; currently completing BCom (Marketing) degree at the University of South Africa

First Job: Sales representative at Elextrolux

Size of First Pay Packet: I seem to think the cost to company was about R15 000 a month; it was a long time ago

Career Path to Date: I have had a sales career spanning a period of over 29 years, having started off in 1995 as a promoter at Electrolux, before being promoted to sales representative in 1999. I then became GM at Wheelquip in 2002, key account manager at Frigoglass South Africa in 2006, and GM again at Wheelquip in 2011, before starting and running my own two companies in 2013. I joined Michelin in 2015 as account manager, rising to regional sales manager in 2019, and have been sales director for the Truck and Bus business since June 2023

Value of Assets under Your Control: About 15% of Michelin’s total market is in South Africa and Southern African Development Community countries

Number of People under Your Leadership: About 10% of the organisation is in South Africa

Management Style: A combination of visionary, transformative and coaching leadership styles

Personal Best Achievement: Managing my first company at the age of 23, successfully starting two businesses and making them profitable before selling them, being named Best Newcomer at Michelin during my first year, and turning around the business I am responsible for as sales director, resulting in it delivering the required value (profit) in six months in 2023

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My wife; she is my support and inspires me to be my best

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My first regional sales manager at Michelin

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: The late Nelson Mandela

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Probably Richard Brandson

Philosophy of Life: Be your own worst critic to enable improvement in your competencies and behaviour

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Making a difference in Michelin, and my career growth in Michelin

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Life happens with disappointments, but I choose to focus on the positive to avoid major disappointments

Hope For the Future: Equity, diversity and inclusion for all people, and a greener, sustainable future for generations to come

Favourite Reading: Short stories and news articles

Favourite TV Programme: How I Met your Mother and Prison Break

Favourite Food/Drink: All good food, South African braai

Favourite Music: Country and 90s hits

Favourite Sport: Rugby, cricket and action cricket

Hobbies: Golf, swimming, outdoors, camping and 4x4 outings

Car: Jeep Wrangler

Pets: Dogs

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Bad food and poor company

Married: To Lelani Lensley

Children: Sebastiaan, 17; Carla, 13

Clubs: Jeep Club