Second is Nothing tells the story of Alan Knott-Craig, moving from his unique childhood challenges to his incredible journey to bring cellular to Africa – continually motivated by his father’s words, ‘First is first and second is nothing’. Bold and courageous – sometimes outrageous – Alan’s visionary leadership, foresight and persistence put Vodacom and South Africa on the map of world firsts, ultimately making his dream of a connected Africa come true. But it was a dream for which he came close to paying the ultimate price.
A maverick civil servant from the government telephone operator, Telkom, Alan Knott-Craig masterfully steered a fledgling cellular company to unparalleled financial success, shaping a revolutionary concept into one of the most powerful brands in Southern Africa – Vodacom. On Alan’s retirement in 2008, Vodacom, valued at R150 billion, had released fourteen consecutive years of double-digit growth, an operating profit for that year of R12.5 billion, an income of R48 billion and 33 million customers in five African countries. It was an exceptional achievement for a man whose priority was not to build a financial empire, but to empower people through communication.
Alan Knott-Craig holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering (Cum Laude) from the University of Cape Town and a Master of Business Leadership degree from the University of South Africa. In 2006 and 2009 respectively he was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Business Leadership from the University of South Africa and an honorary Doctorate in Business Administration from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, both in recognition of his contribution in telecommunications
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October 15th, 2009 at 1:06 PM
Published on ITWeb today 15/10:
Telecoms industry veteran and former Vodacom CEO Alan Knott-Craig yesterday handed out the first copies of his newly-published book, “Second is Nothing”.
The ghost-written autobiography was presented last night to the who’s who of industry at Hyde Park Exclusive Books.
The book tells the story of Knott-Craig, moving from his childhood challenges, to his journey to bring cellular telephony to Africa. The title was taken from his father’s words: “First is first and second is nothing.”
Speaking at the event last night, Knott-Craig said he tried to handle the content of the book with tact. “I am careful not to compromise people and companies, but that which is true, I say,” he said.
The first chapter of the book deals with Knott-Craig’s second heart attack and the impact it had on his life and business. It also reveals that the “father of mobile in SA” did not have his all in the job since 2006 and had been discussing an exit with shareholders since then.
The autobiography promises to reveal interesting titbits about the development of Vodacom and indeed the telecommunications industry as a whole.
In light of the controversial interconnection debate, Knott-Craig revealed in his speech last night that Vodacom has been padding revenue for years, in anticipation of a possible rate cut. “Only a fool would try and defend the current interconnect rates. After 16 years, they are clearly high.”
He said Vodacom had expected the regulator to cut rates far sooner than this year. “I budgeted for a decrease in interconnect rates each year in the last years of my tenure. The regulator surprised me each time he did not cut them.”
Knott-Craig’s biography was ghost-written by Eunice Afonso and published by Macmillan