14
JUNE 2013
captain of industry
I
nterviewing Derek was more along the lines of a casual
chat, as this go-getting, driven individual offered insight
as to what makes him ‘tick’. All the mundane, normal
questions rolled into one uninterrupted conversation as
he shared his background and how it contributed to
acquiring the knowledge he has of the industry, in which
he is undoubtedly a Captain today, as CEO Equipment,
of Babcock International Group.
Born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, (then Rhodesia) Derek’s
family moved to Salisbury (Harare) where Mr Smythe
Snr worked for the Ford Motor Company.
CEN: So where did you complete your schooling?
DS: My father wanted me to pursue a career in a technical
field, so after writing my entrance exam, I was accepted
into Alan Wilson Technical High, Salisbury, where I
completed ‘M’ Levels.
Young for his class, at 16 years of age, Derek was then
faced with the conundrum of either going to South Africa
with his family when his father was offered a position
with BMW, or volunteering to go into the Rhodesian
army. He chose the latter.
DS: So my first job, was as ‘cannon fodder’ (he laughs)
But I really enjoyed the army, it was the best year of my
life, because it was a time of self-actualisation; it was the
catalyst that formed the basic psyche of who I am today.
It’s a travesty of today’s youth that they are not given the
opportunity to go into the military; just to understand the
discipline requirement; what it means to have real friends;
people you will fight alongside and whom you have to
rely on to have your back covered.
CEN: After the army, what did you decide to do to
further your education?
DS: I came down to South Africa in 1976, without
any real plan other than knowing that I had to get
an education, a higher education. However, after
investigating options at UNISA, I decided that I was not
ready to be swamped with piles of paper and made
the decision to go into a trade, something that was
‘hands-on’.
Derek applied for an apprenticeship at Lyttelton
Engineering, an arms factory in Pretoria, completing a
Tool and Jig apprenticeship, where the modern, multiple
facets of the factory enthralled him.
CEN: Having just come out of the army intomanufacturing
gun barrels for the G5 and G6, you must have been in
your element?
DS: (Laughs) Yes and I was given the opportunity over
the next three years to go through every section of the
manufacturing, being awarded
apprentice of the Year
in my third year.
Upon completion of his third year, Derek was offered
a job at Lyttelton Engineering, which he held for three
months. Not one to be ‘hemmed in’ or restricted, he
applied for a job on the mines, where he underwent
further training as a Fitter and Turner Apprentice.
After attaining his T4 qualification (in three months)
at Pretoria Technikon – and a further three years on
the Learner Official Programme – he worked on Two
Seam Springbok Colliery as a Learner Official, as well
as operating in a variety of underground sections as
a Fitter and Turner, including re-building (and driving)
steam engines.
“Why not?”
Captain of Industry attempts to lift the carapace of those individuals who keep the wheels of industry oiled,
offering a peek behind the scenes as to their successes and challenges along their career paths. This month
Kim Kemp interviews Derek Smythe, CEO Equipment, Babcock International Group.
