Dr WP (Bill) Venter

Designation:

Non-executive Chairman of Altron, Bytes and Powertech

Date of Birth:
29 July 1934

Qualifications:
DPhil (Bus Man) (UJ); MPhil (Bus Man) (UJ – cum laude); MBA (Wales); DCom (hc) (UP, UFS and UPE); DSc (Eng) (hc) (Natal); DEng (hc) (Wits); C Eng (UK)

A UK chartered engineer and founder of Altron, through Allied Electric in 1965 and recipient of the Order of Meritorious Service Gold (O.M.S.G), as awarded by the State President of South Africa for his significant contribution to South Africa’s electronics industry.

Titles:

Non-executive Chairman of Altron, Bytes and Powertech
Non-executive Director of Altech, Bytes and Powertech, former Chairman of the CSIR, and past Director of AMIC Limited and Nedbank Limited
Member of the Altron Nomination Committee and Remuneration Committee

Experience:
Some 45 years devoted to entrepreneurial endeavours and initiatives in the electronics, telecommunications and power electrical industries, both in South Africa and offshore, firstly as design engineer then marketing manager at STC (SA) and thereafter Chief Executive and latterly as Chairman of the Altron group.

Dr Venter has played an important role in developing the South African electronics and electrical industry into the key component of the national economy that it is today.

Awarded the Sunday Times Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006, and the Minister’s Technology Top 100 Lifetime Achiever Award in 2009, in recognition of his significant contribution to technology development in South Africa. Voted as one of the top five businessmen of the year by the Sunday Times Business Times. Awarded teh SETA ICT Legend Award (2009) for his contribution to ICT development in southern Africa.

Joined the Altech board in 1975.