Business leader honoured with entrepreneurial award

28 Jun 2012

Marc Sternberg, managing director of Spark ATM Systems, was announced as the co-winner of the Business Person - Entrepreneur Award at the 2012 Absa Jewish Achiever Awards. The achievement follows his reigning title as the Sanlam/Business Partners 2011 Overall Entrepreneur of the Year, further cementing his success as a local business leader.

Sternberg shares the award with Jonathan Goldberg, CEO of Global Business Solutions.

The annual awards honour achievers in the context of the Jewish community and culture with the aim to recognise and reinforce the role of humanity and history in achievement, while rewarding innovation and initiative in order to value enterprise and expertise. Sternberg adds his name to a prestigious list of past winners in the various categories, including Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Gill Marcus, Dr. Ali Bacher and Raymond Ackerman.

Motivation for young entrepreneurs

Sternberg says he is proud to have won the award and hopes that his achievement serves as a motivation to all young and budding entrepreneurs in South Africa. "Given the current dire situation of unemployment in South Africa, it is important to profile the successes and achievements of young entrepreneurs. It shows the youth that by identifying a gap in the market and putting time and effort into a sound business plan, they too can make it as a local entrepreneur," says Sternberg.

Spark ATM Systems is the country's leading independent ATM deployer with sales and technical operations across South Africa. The company has grown significantly since its inception in 2005 and now has a national footprint of over 1 500 ATMs and employs 87 people.