Michael Levinsohn

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.

History

Michael Levinsohn was born on January 25, 1962 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Michael matriculated at Potchefstroom High School for Boys in 1979^{[citation needed]}. He represented his school and province (state) at both field hockey and biathlon^{[citation needed]}. He also won an Inter High Schools speech competition^{[citation needed]}. 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^{[citation needed]}.

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.^{[citation needed]} 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.,^[1] 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.^[2]

Michael co-founded Webworks (Pty) Ltd.^{[citation needed]}, 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^{[citation needed]}. Infinity was invited to become a partner in MasterCard's international vendor program in 2002^{[citation needed]}. 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.^[3]

Michael is the Managing Director of Sterling Trust (Pty) Ltd,^[4] a company he co-founded in 1985^{[citation needed]}. 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[1] on January 15, 2008. He was also formerly responsible for the investments of the South African National Civics Organisation.^[5] 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 [2] a leading American Le Mans, LMP Prototype racing team [3] 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^{[citation needed]}.

A number of articles written by Michael about CRM and loyalty have been published by leading South African journals.^[6]

Music

In 1991, Levinsohn co-financed the production of former Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman's album African Bach^[7] through Atlantic Finance and Investment Holdings.

In 2000, he was the Executive Producer and financier of Miriam Makeba's album Homeland,^[8] which was nominated for a Grammy Award as Best World Music Album.^[9]

Michael was also a co-owner for five years of The Blues Room,^[10] which was voted the top live music venue in Johannesburg^[11] six times in a row.

References

1. ^ Press Release: Satellite Security Corporation (OTCBB:SLTS) Completes Acquisition of AIMMS, Inc. and Changes Name to MOBICOM; Appoints Michael Levinsohn as CEO
2. ^ Global Wear Announces Restructuring, Name Change, Management Change and Acquisition: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance
3. ^ Loyalty programs rein in the rewards, but spread the benefits
4. ^ www.sterlingtrust.co.za
5. ^ EndDay=30&EndMonth=4&EndYear=2007&StartDay=1&StartMonth=1&StartYear=2005&keywords=mayekiso&section= Business Brain Quits Sanco
6. ^ Articles written by Michael Levinsohn
7. ^ RWCC > Discography >African Bach
8. ^ Makeba Returns with 'Homeland'
9. ^ Makeba Joins the Grammy Nominees
10. ^ Untitled Document
11. ^ Best of Joburg - Winners 2007

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Name	Levinsohn, Michael
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Date of birth	1962
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