BEc 1970
Career highlights
- Being entrusted with $18,000 to invest at the age of 18, with an additional $10,000 added later. After three years, Mr Holberton returned over $70,000 to the investor. He then used this success story to land his first job in London.
- As a Director of Inver Trust, Mr Holberton developed and implemented a successful strategy to deliver substantial trading and capital growth and expanded the foreign exchange business internationally.
- Established his business Namibian Minerals Corporation (NAMCO), an offshore diamond explorer, in 1990. NAMCO listed on the NASDAQ and invested over US$100m in southern Africa.
- Established the retail foreign exchange business “Interchange” in 1990. Interchange now has operations in 14 countries with over 1,000 outlets exchanging, transferring and dispensing foreign currency.
- In 2000 Mr Holborten was recognised by the President of Namibia for his personal contribution to the socio-economic development of the country.
Career philosophy
“Originate the idea, solve the problems, manage the people, quality is everything.
Give trust, honour obligations, work to peoples’ strengths while understanding their weakness, never doubt that the dividing line between success and failure is razor thin.
Be daring in concept but financially conservative. Leverage is instability and largely precludes longevity. There is little which cannot be achieved.”