The life of Brian is a rare balance

On Wednesday night, I was privileged to open an exhibition of wildlife photographs and original digital prints at the White House Gallery, in Illovo, produced by Bidvest's talented CEO Brian Joffe, the proceeds of which are earmarked for children's cancer charities.

I am not sure I was really suited to judge the virtues of Joffe's works of art. Back in the late 1970s, when I had secret aspirations of becoming an eminent cartoonist,I attended live drawing classes at Bill Ainslie's studio in Killarney. Unfortunately for me, my cousin Jonathan had similar ambitions.

At classes I'd often come across a young man with black hair and deep, intense eyes kneeling on the floor, scratching with charcoal on a wad of brown paper. His images were tortured and his line coarse. I would glare at the drawings and murmur to myself: "Kid, you're wasting your time." The kid was William Kentridge.

I have known Joffe for well over 50 years. We met on opposing sides of a football field. I was playing for Emmarentia Primary School against his team, Greenside Primary. Many of the boys on the pitch became lifelong friends; still, the walloping we received that afternoon remains a source of derision to this day.

People often ask me the secret of Joffe's success as a business leader. My simple view is that it is his vision; his ability to identify opportunities that others don't see. His mind is three steps ahead of everyone else.

In my career I have encountered numerous individuals with grand ideas, but there are only a few who have Joffe's skill and the self-assurance to explore new frontiers and convert these impulses into major undertakings.

His talent, though, transcends his business success. His gift resides on both sides of his brain - mathematical power and visual imagery. Each year Joffe plays a major role in arranging a banquet at which Bidvest pays tribute to the group's thousands of management and staff, and rewards outstanding individuals from each division. The highlight is an extravaganza, usually featuring international stars, that matches anything you might see in any major entertainment hot spot.

Last year the main attraction was the acclaimed magician and illusionist David Blaine. Only a person with Joffe's boldness, artistic flair and attention to the minutest detail could choreograph a corporate show of this scale.

But his verve doesn't stop there. He has been a keen photographer since childhood and recently published two remarkable books of his wildlife shots. Each picture is complemented with a quote intended to serve as a business lesson to the reader.

Joffe has now turned his attention to creating Gicleé prints. His exhibition features compositions that are vibrant and humorous and uncover a dazzling feel for colour.

Looking around at the gathering while delivering my short speech, I noticed the majority of the crowd were family and friends not necessarily connected to his vast business empire. Posing for photographs, Joffe was proudest and happiest when surrounded by close family members, especially his three young grandchildren.

I realised then what I admired most about him and began to understand the eloquent life messages that accompanied each of his wildlife photos. In 25 years Joffe has built one of the country's leading industrial establishments, an enterprise with a reach that extends beyond South Africa to Europe, Asia and Australia. He is responsible for the wellbeing of more than 100000 families. Yet, despite this burdensome responsibility, he has found a soulful balance in life, enjoying peace and contentment by setting aside time to forge relationships with his grandchildren and sit for hours in the bush waiting to capture the right moment to click the shutter.