Meet Bertrand Knopf: Managing Director, Gemalto Southern Africa

The second instalment in our regular feature to introduce key executives from across the Convergence Partners investment portfolio. Bertrand is the Managing Director of Gemalto Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd. Gemalto is the global leader in digital security, providing secure personal devices, platforms and services to governments, organisations and businesses.
Before being assigned as MD in Johannesburg, Bertrand was in charge of Product, Solutions and Services group for the Secure Transactions Business Unit (€450m) with teams based in Europe and in Asia. Here in South Africa, Bertrand manages all Business units (Telecommunications, Secure Transactions and Government) as well as Operations for Southern Africa. This business comprises around 400 people with a turnover of approximately €80m.

See below Questionnaire:

Name?
- Bertrand Knopf

Company?
- Gemalto

Position?
- Managing Director of Gemalto Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd

How long have you been with the company? Tell us about your background?
- 15 years; I have been handling several positions mostly in sales, marketing and management; before my assignment in Johannesburg, I was in charge of Product, Solutions and Services group for the Secure Transactions Business Unit (450m€) with teams based in Europe and in Asia; here in South Africa, I manage the business for all Business units (Telecommunications, Secure Transactions and Government) as well as Operations for Southern Africa. It is around 400 people and a turnover of approximately 80mEuros.

What are your key skills that you bring to the job?
- I bring my knowledge of the company and of the business, and working actively on propagating. Gemalto values across the board: customers, people and innovation.

What has impressed you about Gemalto?
- Gemalto commitment to innovate and deliver secure personal solutions to ease the life of everyone. We are delivering more than 1,5 billion secure devices every year (much more than any handset or PC maker) and we are involved in many various projects such as Mobile Money with MTN (peer to peer money transfer through mobile phone), contactless payment cards roll out with banks, issuance of secure personal documents such as electronic ID or biometrics passports with governments…

How do you see your industry changing in the next 5 years?
- The industry will definitely evolve into more convergence between different sectors like Mobile and Payment or like Payment and Transport. Convenience and security will be at the heart of any solution or service to be brought to the end-users by Telecom operators, Banks, Transport authorities or Governments. Differentiation will come through value added services to the end-user.

How have you found working with Convergence Partners?
- Respect and confidence in the relationship

What are your personal interests/hobbies?
- I care a lot about my wonderful wife and kids and enjoy spending time with them; otherwise I like playing tennis and golf, and I have a strong appetite to travel and discover new cultures.

Blackberry vs. iPhone? Other?
- No blackberry; no iphone yet (I left it to my wife…)… but an other pda…..

Mac vs. PC?
- PC as it is the standard at Gemalto