Leigh Ann Johannsen

Full Name: Leigh Ann Johannsen

Position and Company Name: MD of Check-Your-Driver (CYD)

Main Activity of the Company: CYD performs criminal checks on people seeking employment as professional drivers and also verifies their driving credentials

Date and Place of Birth: December 13, 1976, Benoni, on Gauteng’s East Rand

Schools and Tertiary Education: I hold a four-year diploma in primary education from the Johannesburg College of Education and a BA in psychology from the University of South Africa

First Job: Red Bull marketing promo girl. Yes, the car with the big can on the roof – that was me back in the day

Career History Prior to Current Position: Red Bull marketing, primary school teacher and vice principal, diver instructor, chef on boats, fraud investigator and CEO of CYD, which I started in 2016

Size of First Pay Packet: £120 a day as a supply teacher in London

First Job with Present Group: I started the company in 2016

Value of Assets under Your Control: Let’s not give away those secrets! I have a few properties in the UK and dabble in crypto trading – so, a nice, varied portfolio

Number of People under Your Leadership: 3

Management Style: We might need to ask my colleagues!

Personal Best Achievement: Travel and world experiences

Professional Best Achievement: The success of CYD

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: Definitely my mother – my rock and witness to my life!

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My life partner, Renier, who runs CYD with me. We are very different, and all I can say is that is good! We are a great team and balance each other out

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: British comedian, actor and activist Russell Brand and Welsh actor, director and producer Anthony Hopkins

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Renier, my life partner – what a legend!!

Philosophy of Life: Do the right thing, even if no one is watching

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Working as a dive master in Turks and Caicos as well as the Dominican Republic in my mid-30s. Part of the season was in water experiences with hump-back whales

Biggest Ever Disappointment: I try not to dwell on the negative

Hope for the Future: Health and happiness

Favourite Reading: Crime

Favourite TV Programme: I enjoy crime documentaries and Judge Judy

Favourite Food/Drink: Pizza and red wine – or bubbly, of course

Favourite Music: Country

Favourite Sport: I enjoy watching 20/20 cricket or anything live, as the atmosphere is great

Favourite Website: Takealot

Hobbies: I enjoy cooking, but I just don’t get to do it as often as I would like

Car: Toyota Fortuner

Pets: I will be getting my first pets ever as an adult in a few weeks – cutest Bengal kittens. I have always loved cats, but my travels didn’t allow for pets. It is time, though; we have built a lovely home in a small seaside town and love it here. It’s very settled and I am looking forward to the kitties joining us soon

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Whistling

Favourite Other South African Company: The Elder’s Voice

Favourite Foreign Company: The Asher House

Married: Oh, let’s not go there!

Children: None

Clubs: Wine Club