Meet Lucas Taruvinga AMTEC, CEO
1. In a few words describe who Lucas Taruvinga is?
Well, Lucas is the current CEO of Amtec (Private) Limited t/a Amtec Motors. Lucas is married to Mebbo and they are blessed with 3 children. Lucas is a devout Christian
2. We know you as Chartered Accountant, please describe the journey you took to become the CEO of AMTEC?
Post qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 2001, I worked for various organizations in the capacities of Senior Manager/Executive in the Finance and Internal Audit function. Once worked for Amtec from 2003-2005 as Group Finance Manager. Was then promoted to the becoming the CEO of Amtec Motors in 2011, coming from being Financial Controller/Company Secretary of Willowvale Motor Industries. Took over the company which needed a turnaround at the time. It was not easy to turnaround the fortunes of the business but the team at Amtec Motors is very resilient and hard working. Together as a team we managed to achieve to turn around the company and establish it to what it currently is.
3. DRIVEtorque interviewed you after AMTEC beat 42 nations to win Sub-Saharan Africa Aftersales Achievement award in July 2022. You have won a number of awards in your career. What is the secret to winning?
Oh, there is no secret to winning per se but at Amtec Motors there are two very critical aspects that we believe in. We believe in the fact that God has given us the ability to prosper. With that key belief, we further believe that our uniqueness lies within our people. We believe in building unique individuals who in turn build and superintend over consistent and dynamic business systems that in turn address the evolving needs of our customers. Our people are our uniqueness. We always develop them with a long-term view. When the customers are happy, we in turn get recognized and awarded.
4. What is one word that describes you?
Humane (People-centric)
5. Describe the AMTEC brand in one word
Resilient
6. As CEO what is the single thing that makes you lose sleep?
When the Amtec Human Resources Capital is disgruntled.
7. Who do you look up to for inspiration or mentorship?
I have no one individual leader that I look up to. Apart from the great leadership traits that I draw from the bible, there are so many other leaders within our country and our industry in particular from whom I derive different leadership traits
8. How do you keep your team motivated despite conflicts, obstacles and economic challenges?
I just treat them with respect knowing that each one of them is a leader in their own right. With that in mind, I communicate openly and effectively even in the face of challenges
9. What are the most important attributes of successful leaders today?
The ability to listen and communicate effectively
10. What’s the most important risk you ever took in your life and why?
The risk of taking over the leadership of a company that was technically insolvent. I believed that as long as the team understood the vision, together we were going to come out of the woods
11. How do you continue to grow and develop as a person?
I am always learning. Learning from others and reading. I read a lot. I attend self-development seminars.
12. How do you align and balance AMTEC’s business objectives with your personal vision and goals?
I value quiet and time for devotions where I will be alone. That time of quietness and devotions is divided into career related devotions and personal devotions. I create time for that consistently on a daily basis.
13. What do you love about the AMTEC brand?
It is a tried and tested brand that has been in existence for over 7 decades. It is always evolving
14. What would be your message to a university student who is reading this page and wants to be a CEO like you one day?
That great leaders are great FOLLOWERS. If you want to be a great leader then learn to be a great follower. Be patient while you prepare on a daily basis. There are no quantum lips in leadership. It is a slight edge process.
15. How are you coping as a Dad and a CEO?
I give it all to my work during working hours and retire to home after work and during weekends. At work I believe so much in effective delegation and leave time to focus on strategic issues. That in itself creates time for me to be with my family off working hours.
16. What’s your favourite car and why?
The Nissan Patrol. It talks. It has power
Well, Lucas is the current CEO of Amtec (Private) Limited t/a Amtec Motors. Lucas is married to Mebbo and they are blessed with 3 children. Lucas is a devout Christian
2. We know you as Chartered Accountant, please describe the journey you took to become the CEO of AMTEC?
Post qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 2001, I worked for various organizations in the capacities of Senior Manager/Executive in the Finance and Internal Audit function. Once worked for Amtec from 2003-2005 as Group Finance Manager. Was then promoted to the becoming the CEO of Amtec Motors in 2011, coming from being Financial Controller/Company Secretary of Willowvale Motor Industries. Took over the company which needed a turnaround at the time. It was not easy to turnaround the fortunes of the business but the team at Amtec Motors is very resilient and hard working. Together as a team we managed to achieve to turn around the company and establish it to what it currently is.
3. DRIVEtorque interviewed you after AMTEC beat 42 nations to win Sub-Saharan Africa Aftersales Achievement award in July 2022. You have won a number of awards in your career. What is the secret to winning?
Oh, there is no secret to winning per se but at Amtec Motors there are two very critical aspects that we believe in. We believe in the fact that God has given us the ability to prosper. With that key belief, we further believe that our uniqueness lies within our people. We believe in building unique individuals who in turn build and superintend over consistent and dynamic business systems that in turn address the evolving needs of our customers. Our people are our uniqueness. We always develop them with a long-term view. When the customers are happy, we in turn get recognized and awarded.
4. What is one word that describes you?
Humane (People-centric)
5. Describe the AMTEC brand in one word
Resilient
6. As CEO what is the single thing that makes you lose sleep?
When the Amtec Human Resources Capital is disgruntled.
7. Who do you look up to for inspiration or mentorship?
I have no one individual leader that I look up to. Apart from the great leadership traits that I draw from the bible, there are so many other leaders within our country and our industry in particular from whom I derive different leadership traits
8. How do you keep your team motivated despite conflicts, obstacles and economic challenges?
I just treat them with respect knowing that each one of them is a leader in their own right. With that in mind, I communicate openly and effectively even in the face of challenges
9. What are the most important attributes of successful leaders today?
The ability to listen and communicate effectively
10. What’s the most important risk you ever took in your life and why?
The risk of taking over the leadership of a company that was technically insolvent. I believed that as long as the team understood the vision, together we were going to come out of the woods
11. How do you continue to grow and develop as a person?
I am always learning. Learning from others and reading. I read a lot. I attend self-development seminars.
12. How do you align and balance AMTEC’s business objectives with your personal vision and goals?
I value quiet and time for devotions where I will be alone. That time of quietness and devotions is divided into career related devotions and personal devotions. I create time for that consistently on a daily basis.
13. What do you love about the AMTEC brand?
It is a tried and tested brand that has been in existence for over 7 decades. It is always evolving
14. What would be your message to a university student who is reading this page and wants to be a CEO like you one day?
That great leaders are great FOLLOWERS. If you want to be a great leader then learn to be a great follower. Be patient while you prepare on a daily basis. There are no quantum lips in leadership. It is a slight edge process.
15. How are you coping as a Dad and a CEO?
I give it all to my work during working hours and retire to home after work and during weekends. At work I believe so much in effective delegation and leave time to focus on strategic issues. That in itself creates time for me to be with my family off working hours.
16. What’s your favourite car and why?
The Nissan Patrol. It talks. It has power
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