Craig Nortje is our Technical Director for JEB Funiture Solutions and an avid fitness lover
November 10, 2017 - Craig Nortje is our Technical Director for JEB Furniture Solutions, who has returned to JEB family after taking a break to pursue a fitness career. He has previously spent 4 years in JEB Furniture Solutions, and is thrilled to assume his current role.
Q: Tell us about your new role and you career path.
C: As a Technical Director, I will work very closely with suppliers in the whole project management process. I will also be supporting the Sales and Project teams in their daily operations.
Before moving to Hong Kong, I was based in South Africa, working predominantly as a Design and Production Engineer. Over the last ten years, I have held different positions in sales and operations. I took a sabbatical from the corporate world and began my endeavours in coaching and personal fitness. I am fascinated by effects working demands have on peoples’ fitness and general health, and conversely the effects of improved physical health have on work performance. I think we can do more to promote better interaction with our office furniture and educate clients with solutions for healthier work spaces.
Q: What were you previously doing at JEB?
C: My first role was being the Project Manager at JEB Furniture Solutions. Then I moved to the operations side as an Operation Manager, and later became General Manager from 2010 to 2013.
Q: What made you come back to JEB?
C: I had stayed in touch with some of the staff after I left, and was then fortunate enough to come back to the JEB office as the in-house fitness trainer. From there I got to see how the team had evolved, and it looked like a community I would like to be a part of. When a potential opening became available, I jumped right at it.
Q: Describe JEB's culture in your own words.
C: It’s a fantastic working environment and I feel that the people all have similar attitudes and share common goals. I like to look at how a company conducts its business and the people within the organisation. Having great products is also a plus. And JEB has all of the above.
Q: Lots of people in the office know you as the company's physical instructor. What was the little course you were running?
C: The course I ran was a general fitness workshop in the showroom after office hours. I have felt first-hand the benefits of fitness on my health and my state of mind. Our Managing Director, Rob, felt the same way too. That was why he thought it would be a good idea to offer this to JEB staff.
Q: Will the fitness classes continue?
C:It will continue in some form in the future, but still need to work out the details. Who knows, I might become the unofficial fitness director here as well!