Chartered accountants are supposed to be cautious folk. Quite possibly, that`s why, when the stock market was dead as a dodo, Peter Forsyth decided to go for a listing in the venture capital sector.
"September 1999 was probably the worst time ever to list. The IT market was as depressed as I`ve ever seen it, but we were doing it for the right reasons," says Forsyth. "One, we needed to make sure we had a profile in the market. Two, we were a total start-up and we had to have a vehicle to make acquisitions and put a value on the share."
Three years on, ERP.com, now growing at an average of 56% a year, has qualified to move to the main board of the JSE Securities Exchange - a feat that Forsyth says is a first. "No other IT company has survived three years on venture capital and moved to the main board. It`s a sign that we have matured, that we have a track record. In the IT industry, which has developed a credibility problem in the past four or five years, that`s important. We don`t expect miracles but I like to think that we`ve shown we can deliver and keep our promises."
While talkative enough when the subject is ERP.com, Forsyth is reticent when the conversation turns to himself. How does he feel about his nomination for this award? "I was pleasantly surprised," he says. Silence.
"I`ve never been great on talking about myself, everyone knows that. It`s not about me, it`s about the company. We have very good people and we`re not at all interested in egos and status."
Prodded, he is only marginally more forthcoming. Why did he make the leap from accounting to technology? "I got bored with accounting. I see myself as an entrepreneur - a very patient entrepreneur. It takes time to build an asset, the last three years have taught me that."
He has also learnt that golf, a sport he took up late, at the age of 35, is a great revealer of character. "It brings out the best and the worst in people," he says enigmatically.
Which, in his case, means what? Forsyth laughs: "I`m a very good winner; I`m a wonderful person when I`m winning! I`ve also learnt how to handle disappointments, though. I can accept setbacks and put them behind me. With golf, like in business, you can never sit back and think you`ve arrived. I could kick myself for not starting earlier."
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