DUT will host outstanding business leader and SA motor industry icon; Brand Pretorius, today (Friday, 29 August 2014) when he will talk about Inspirational Leadership during his public lecture.
The lecture will be held at the DUT’s Hotel School Conference Centre, Ritson Campus, corner of Ritson Road and Winterton Walk in Durban, between 15h30 and 16h30.

Last year (2013), Pretorius received an Honorary Doctor of Technology Degree in Marketing from DUT, in recognition of his excellent standing in the country’s motor industry as well as in the marketing and manufacturing sectors. Pretorius was born in Steynsrus in the Free State. He matriculated at Kroonstad High School and obtained his Master of Commerce degree in Business Economics at the University of the Free State. He has an honorary professorship in Business Management which was conferred to him in 1991 by the University of Free State and in May 2001, by the University of Johannesburg.

His business career began at Toyota South Africa in 1973. He has lead in management positions in research, planning, sales and marketing. Pretorius was also appointed managing director of Toyota SA Marketing in 1988. During his tenure, Toyota became the market leader in terms sales and customer satisfaction. He has also served as a Chief Executive Officer for McCarthy Limited, the holding company of McCarthy Motor Holdings, where he played a crucial role in saving it from bankruptcy.

Pretorius is the author of the book: In the driving seat- lessons in leadership, which was published in February last year (2013). He is one of South Africa’s foremost leadership coaches and public speakers on business success and leadership. He has won various awards, including the Junior Businessman of the Year (1985), Communicator of the Year (1994), Best Boss (1994), Automobile Man of the Year, the Manpower Award of Excellence (1995) and the Presidential Award for Excellence in Business Communication by the SA Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (1997).

Pretorius currently serves as a non-executive director on the boards of the Barclays Africa Group, Reunert, Metair, Italtile, Tata Africa Holdings and Tongaat Hulett. He is also a member of the advisory boards of the international consultancy firm Alexander Proudfoot as well as the Motor Industry Ombudsman of South Africa.

The details of the lecture are as follows:
Date: Today, Friday, 29 August 2014
Time: 15h00 – 16h30
Venue: DUT Hotel School Conference Centre,Ritson Campus, corner of Ritson Road and Winterton Walk

-Noxolo Memela

Pictured: Brand Pretorius