Asgar Mahomed
Managing Director, Esquire
Born
in Pretoria
As a young man in his early 20s with a keen interest in IT, Asgar was constantly approached by family and friends to advise on and help with their computers. After assembling PCs on a dining room table at his parents' home, Asgar realised it was a short step to take his skills to a professional level and offer a total IT solution to his clients.
After listening closely to his client's requirements, Asgar would provide a tailored IT solution by sourcing machines and software and providing installation as well as training.
In 1989, Asgar opened a retail store in Pretoria called Micro Matrix Computers, and expanded the business from selling one PC per day to 10 machines a day. The business soon went national with offices in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth and within three years, the business opened another four stores across the country.
In 1994, being a truly BEE company, Asgar realised there was a major gap in the industry to supply and service the Government and Corporate sector and formed Casey Electronics to offer IT support in this market sector. In 1998 Asgar and his team listed the Casey Group, as well as the retail stores, Micro Matrix Computers, on the JSE under the name Casey Investment Holdings Limited.
In its 13-year history, Casey grew organically and was voted the sixth largest IT distributor in South Africa by the Corporate Research Foundation. In 2000, Casey was acquired by Black Information Technology Empowerment Company (BLITEC).
Looking for the next business venture, Asgar with his business partner, Mahomed Cassim started Esquire Technologies, growing the business in a few short years from 4 people to 160 staff, branches countrywide and an established position as a leading IT distributor of computer and lifestyle products in southern Africa.
Asgar still keeps close to other fledging businesses, keen to pass on lessons learnt, acting as a mentor, nurturing good ideas and encouraging entrepreneurship as well as contributing to organisations like Young Presidents Organisation (YPO). He is involved in Al-Najda Foundation, an organisation that provides bursaries to students who have the skills, commitment and drive to progress their education, but who face financial hurdles.
Asgar has aimed to create a healthy and holistic business environment, based on the principles of integrity, authenticity and prosperity. He has learnt to balance his personal life and business, spending a great deal of time with his wife and three young children, as well as participating in sporting activities including squash, swimming and soccer. He continuously strives to create a work environment that is personally fulfilling and financially successful, believing that the two are not mutually exclusive.
Business Address
Educational history
Secondary
Himalaya Secondary School, Centurion, South Africa (1987)
Tertiary
Braamfontein, South Africa | 1986 - 1987
Programmer - Cobol and Basic Programming
Achievements
Awards
Esquire Technologies has won the African Distributor of the Year Award at the Channel Academy 2012 Awards ceremony that was attended by over 1000 senior executives. The awards took place during a Gala Dinner at the Salle des Etoiles in Monaco on Thursday 9th February 2012.
Esquire Technologies, leading distributor of IT and digital lifestyle products in southern Africa, has recently clinched the IC Intracom Genesis Award in Germany and has been appointed to the Distributor Advisory Council (DAC) for a two-year term.
The Distributor of the Year Award is designed to recognise and highlight outstanding distribution performance that includes promotion of world-class brands, target growth opportunity identification and development, value added services and solutions for the channel, business-to-business excellence and financial performance.
Esquire walked away with 16 first positions in their respective categories; Client Server Processes, Systems Builder Components, SME Wireless Products, Display Panels, Consumables, Impact Printers, Multi-function Printers, Network Printers, Enhancement Peripheral Devices, Bar code Scanners, POS Solutions, Netbooks, Notebooks, UPSes, Mobile Computers and Commercial Desktop PCs, in addition to the title of Distributor of the Year 2009 voted by CRN readers and clients.
Asgar Mahomed, Managing Director at Esquire, said: “From our perspective, winning these awards is a ringing endorsement of the work achieved over the last few years. We appreciate the fact that our clients and readers went out of their way to vote for Esquire, and feel this is a positive reflection of our reputation in the market and our commitment to the IT industry.”
Asgar Mahomed, was announced as the Business Person of the Year in the FNB Islamic Finance Business Award 2009 for his contribution towards sustainable economic development, as well as community upliftment. Esquire was also runner up in runner up Large Business Entity category.
Shortlist and nomination
Finalist - Top Performing Entrepreneur of the Year African Access Business Awards | 2011
Brett Levy - Blue Label Telecoms Ltd
Mark Levy - Blue Label Telecoms Ltd
Simphiwe Mdlalose - Capricorn FM
Asgar Mahomed - Esquire System Technology (Pty) Ltd
Rajendran Reddy - KZN Oils (Pty) Ltd
Tokoloho Letsunyane - Letsunyane Associates (Pty) Ltd
Gus Behn - Longspan Gutters cc
Ronald Abvajee - My Personal Trainer Wellness (Pty) Ltd
Egbert Lourens - Waste Plan (Pty) Ltd
Top Performing Entrepreneur of the Year African Access Business Awards | 2010
Rashid Lombard - espAfrika (Pty) Ltd
Sharon Eades - Cape Precious Metals (Pty) Ltd
Vivian Reddy - Edison Power Group
Gerrie van Zyl - tradebridge (Pty) Ltd
Asgar Mahomed - Esquire Sytem Technology (Pty) Ltd
Sisa Ngebulana - Billion Group (Pty) Ltd
media exposure
Competitive Accomplishments
Academic Achievements
Computer Programmer | 1987
Qualifed as a Computer Programmer at Computer Academy of South Africa
Other Achievements
Finalist - Top Performing Entrepreneur of the Year African Access Business Awards | Sponsored by Airports Company South Africa | 2011
Brett Levy - Blue Label Telecoms Ltd
Mark Levy - Blue Label Telecoms Ltd
Simphiwe Mdlalose - Capricorn FM
Asgar Mahomed - Esquire System Technology (Pty) Ltd
Rajendran Reddy - KZN Oils (Pty) Ltd
Tokoloho Letsunyane - Letsunyane Associates (Pty) Ltd
Gus Behn - Longspan Gutters cc
Ronald Abvajee - My Personal Trainer Wellness (Pty) Ltd
Egbert Lourens - Waste Plan (Pty) Ltd
Finalist - Top Performing Entrepreneur of the Year African Access Business Awards | Sponsored by Airports Company South Africa | 2010
Rashid Lombard - espAfrika (Pty) Ltd
Sharon Eades - Cape Precious Metals (Pty) Ltd
Vivian Reddy - Edison Power Group
Gerrie van Zyl - tradebridge (Pty) Ltd
Asgar Mahomed - Esquire Sytem Technology (Pty) Ltd
Sisa Ngebulana - Billion Group (Pty) Ltd
Activities
Memberships
community
Director, 2010 - present
A Director of the Minara Business Chamber of Commerce, which is an organisation based in Durban and Gauteng that supports businessmen and businesswomen with inbound and outbound Trade Delegations. The Chamber of Commerce is opened to all races, colour or creed with Islamic Business Principles.
Minara Chamber of Commerce
Director, 2009 - present
Other Activities
Midmar Mile
Open Water Swimming, 2009, 2009 - 2009
Open Water Swimming, 2010 - present
Open Water Swimming, 2009 - present
