Michael Levinsohn
Encyclopedia
Michael Levinsohn is a South African entrepreneur who has successfully established a number of businesses and financed the production of some albums by notable musicians.
Michael matriculated at Potchefstroom High School for Boys
in 1979. He represented his school and province (state) at both field hockey
and biathlon
. He also won an Inter High Schools speech competition. He completed his compulsory national service in 1981, graduating as a 2nd Lieutenant and attended the University of the Witwatersrand
for three years, where he read for a law degree.
Michael co-founded Webworks (Pty) Ltd., the company which in 1998 developed the smart card based Infinity CRM program, now the largest privately owned CRM and loyalty program in South Africa, with 1.2 million cardholders. Infinity's technology was recognized internationally as leading edge at the time. Infinity was invited to become a partner in MasterCard's
international vendor program in 2002. Infinity was also voted the leading independent loyalty program in South Africa in 2002 in an independent study carried out by World Wide Worx (Pty) Ltd.
Michael is the Managing Director of Sterling Trust (Pty) Ltd, a company he co-founded in 1985. Sterling Trust (Pty) Ltd has advised many South African companies on mergers and acquisitions
in the technology
, light engineering and financial services
sectors. He is also a director of 121 Marketing (Pty) Ltd., a strategic marketing company that focuses on the Customer Relationship Management
and loyalty
industries. Levinsohn became the CEO of Mobicom Corporation
http://www.mobicomkorea.co.kr on January 15, 2008. He was also formerly responsible for the investments of the South African National Civics Organisation. In January 2009 he was responsible for establishing Lenco Mobile Inc., in the United States of America. Lenco Mobile Inc. provides a range of mobile marketing solutions to brand owners internationally.
In early 2008 Michael expanded his business interests to include his passion for motor racing and he formed a partnership with Intersport Racing http://www.intersportracing.com a leading American Le Mans, LMP Prototype racing team http://www.americanlemans.com to build the commercial arm of Intersport Racing.
Michael is an expert in Customer Relationship Management
programs and strategy. He has developed and been awarded a provisional patent for his innovative Mobile Phone and Internet CRM program which provides brand owners and consumers with a fully integrated mobile phone CRM program.
A number of articles written by Michael about CRM and loyalty have been published by leading South African journals.
keyboardist Rick Wakeman's
album African Bach through Atlantic Finance and Investment Holdings.
In 2000, he was the Executive Producer and financier of Miriam Makeba
's album Homeland
, which was nominated for a Grammy Award
as Best World Music
Album.
Michael was also a co-owner for five years of The Blues Room, which was voted the top live music venue in Johannesburg six times in a row.
History
Michael Levinsohn was born on January 25, 1962 in Johannesburg, South Africa.Michael matriculated at Potchefstroom High School for Boys
Potchefstroom High School for Boys
Potchefstroom High School for Boys is a high school situated in Potchefstroom, South Africa. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious schools in South Africa.-School History:...
in 1979. He represented his school and province (state) at both field hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
and biathlon
Biathlon
Biathlon is a term used to describe any sporting event made up of two disciplines. However, biathlon usually refers specifically to the winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting...
. He also won an Inter High Schools speech competition. He completed his compulsory national service in 1981, graduating as a 2nd Lieutenant and attended the University of the Witwatersrand
University of the Witwatersrand
The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg is a South African university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg. It is more commonly known as Wits University...
for three years, where he read for a law degree.
Entrepreneurship
He then co-founded a number of businesses including Kismet Marketing (Pty) Ltd., Atlantic Finance & Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd., and Digital Vouchers (Pty) Ltd. He was also a director of various companies listed on the JSE Securities Exchange including Lanchem Ltd., Ventel Ltd., and Integrated Consumer Products Ltd. He was also a director of AIMMS Co. Ltd., the leading Mobile phone based CRM service provider in Korea. In March 2008, USA based Sovereign Wealth Corp acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares in Digital Vouchers (Pty) Ltd, a business Michael founded in 2003, in an all share exchange agreement. He was subsequently appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Sovereign Wealth Corp. which was renamed Lenco Mobile Inc.Michael co-founded Webworks (Pty) Ltd., the company which in 1998 developed the smart card based Infinity CRM program, now the largest privately owned CRM and loyalty program in South Africa, with 1.2 million cardholders. Infinity's technology was recognized internationally as leading edge at the time. Infinity was invited to become a partner in MasterCard's
MasterCard
Mastercard Incorporated or MasterCard Worldwide is an American multinational financial services corporation with its headquarters in the MasterCard International Global Headquarters, Purchase, Harrison, New York, United States...
international vendor program in 2002. Infinity was also voted the leading independent loyalty program in South Africa in 2002 in an independent study carried out by World Wide Worx (Pty) Ltd.
Michael is the Managing Director of Sterling Trust (Pty) Ltd, a company he co-founded in 1985. Sterling Trust (Pty) Ltd has advised many South African companies on mergers and acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions refers to the aspect of corporate strategy, corporate finance and management dealing with the buying, selling, dividing and combining of different companies and similar entities that can help an enterprise grow rapidly in its sector or location of origin, or a new field or...
in the technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
, light engineering and financial services
Financial services
Financial services refer to services provided by the finance industry. The finance industry encompasses a broad range of organizations that deal with the management of money. Among these organizations are credit unions, banks, credit card companies, insurance companies, consumer finance companies,...
sectors. He is also a director of 121 Marketing (Pty) Ltd., a strategic marketing company that focuses on the Customer Relationship Management
Customer relationship management
Customer relationship management is a widely implemented strategy for managing a company’s interactions with customers, clients and sales prospects. It involves using technology to organize, automate, and synchronize business processes—principally sales activities, but also those for marketing,...
and loyalty
Loyalty
Loyalty is faithfulness or a devotion to a person, country, group, or cause There are many aspects to...
industries. Levinsohn became the CEO of Mobicom Corporation
Mobicom Corporation
Mobicom Corporation is the largest mobile phone operator in Mongolia.It was established as a joint Mongolian-Japanese venture on 18th March of 1996, to be the first Mongolian cell phone service. It was founded by Newcom Group, Sumitomo, and KDDI...
http://www.mobicomkorea.co.kr on January 15, 2008. He was also formerly responsible for the investments of the South African National Civics Organisation. In January 2009 he was responsible for establishing Lenco Mobile Inc., in the United States of America. Lenco Mobile Inc. provides a range of mobile marketing solutions to brand owners internationally.
In early 2008 Michael expanded his business interests to include his passion for motor racing and he formed a partnership with Intersport Racing http://www.intersportracing.com a leading American Le Mans, LMP Prototype racing team http://www.americanlemans.com to build the commercial arm of Intersport Racing.
Michael is an expert in Customer Relationship Management
Customer relationship management
Customer relationship management is a widely implemented strategy for managing a company’s interactions with customers, clients and sales prospects. It involves using technology to organize, automate, and synchronize business processes—principally sales activities, but also those for marketing,...
programs and strategy. He has developed and been awarded a provisional patent for his innovative Mobile Phone and Internet CRM program which provides brand owners and consumers with a fully integrated mobile phone CRM program.
A number of articles written by Michael about CRM and loyalty have been published by leading South African journals.
Music
In 1991, Levinsohn co-financed the production of former YesYes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
keyboardist Rick Wakeman's
Rick Wakeman
Richard Christopher Wakeman is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes...
album African Bach through Atlantic Finance and Investment Holdings.
In 2000, he was the Executive Producer and financier of Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba , nicknamed Mama Africa, was a Grammy Award winning South African singer and civil rights activist....
's album Homeland
Homeland (Miriam Makeba album)
Homeland is a 2000 album by South African singer Miriam Makeba. It was released in 2000 on CD by world music label Putumayo. It includes a duet starring Makeba and Zenzi Lee in a renovated version of Makeba's trademark hit song "Pata Pata" , entitled "Pata Pata 2000"...
, which was nominated for a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
as Best World Music
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
Album.
Michael was also a co-owner for five years of The Blues Room, which was voted the top live music venue in Johannesburg six times in a row.