09 July 2011
John Jones
Managing Director
LTM (Lift Turn Move Ltd
We look forward to welcoming John back to South Africa. 
Dan asked: “Did you plan your life in the industry or was it by default?”
By default, I started work in a factory making plastic containers- working in the QA dept., I never thought I would end up doing sales…. I then worked in a lifting equipment company from 1983 and have done ever since. The company I worked for started selling entertainment hoists in the late 80’s but my boss wouldn’t let me near it. When we set up LTM our primary market was entertainment although that’s changed a little bit and I still enjoy everything I do especially solving the problems that people throw at me.
Derek asked: “What is the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?”
Probably resigning from the plastics factory after a row with a girlfriend and applying for and getting a job in Germany when I was 19 years old. I gobbled off a bit too much and then found myself having to go rather than wanting to go, it all worked out well though and probably gave me the kick that I needed to get into something else see
Nicolet asked: “In what country did you get lost the most and how did you handle it?”
I don’t really get lost in that way, I tend to be quite organised despite being slightly dyslexic and tend to plan journeys, like most men I just find my own way rather than stopping and asking anybody for help.
Nick asked: “What is the most awkward situation you’ve been in – work related that is?”
This has to be when Nick came to Europe for the first time and we were trying to meet up with him in a restaurant in Frankfurt, I told Nick to just get a taxi but he couldn’t work out how to make them stop and we never met up for the evening meal.
Cherine asked: “What is your most impressive international event / project?”
This has to be a major lifting Project worth about £300,000 which was for the Kremlin in Russia with a lot of hoists to German standards BGV C1 and control systems. We had the first meeting at Plasa with the client, LTM were 8 days old at that time, 3 months later we had the order, there was a lot of frantic paddling trying to make sure everything worked as it should and eventually we got there.
Amanda: “If you could live anywhere in the world, what country would you choose and why?”
Either Italy or France, lovely food, nice wines but maybe that’s because I spent some time there on holiday were its maybe not so frantic.
Duncan asked: “Are you here for work or for wine?”
I love coming to South Africa, I’ve been here about 10 times now and I’m really looking forward to this trip. I was surprised on one of my first trips to find beer made by the Birkenhead Brewery, Birkenhead is my home town, I will be trying to get some of this to take back to show the guys. South African wines always great as well.
Sherryn asked: “Could you name one of your little pleasures in life?”
I don’t do much in the way of relaxation, I should do more but one of my pleasures in life is going to watch my football team Everton FC and I was really sad when our only South African Steven Pienaar left for Tottenham in January, he summed up South Africans for me- resilient, persistent and I good fun to be with.
