Freight recruitment ‘pioneer’ CELEBRATES 40 years

What started
out as a hobby
for Lee Botti
& Associates
managing director Lee
Botti has developed over
40 years into an industry
‘icon’ providing a national
recruitment service that
has placed thousands of
candidates in South Africa
and internationally.
Launched in 1977, LBA
started operations in Gauteng,
based in London House in
the Johannesburg CBD. Nine
years later a Durban office
opened its doors – followed
by a Cape Town operation in
1987.
In 1979 LBA joined APSO,
the industry association – and
in 2016, Lee was awarded
a ‘Long standing Member
award’ by the APSO CEO and
committee.
But business growth is
about never standing still,
it’s about adding value – and
in the early 80s the Salary
Survey was born, becoming a
valuable tool for the clearing
and forwarding
industry. In
2004, this was
sold to
P E Corporate
Services, with
LBA still being
involved from
a marketing
perspective. It
is published for
the industry on a
bi-annual basis,
with the next
publication due
to come out in
August 2017.
“Over the years, we have
seen the industry change and
evolve – and the company
has grown and evolved
with it. That growth
has been due largely to
the commitment and
dedication of the directors
and the staff who have
played a vital part in
its success. To date, our
existing ‘family’ represents
a combined 165 years of
experience – and includes
Lee’s daughters Kim Botti
and Jill Morris with a
combined 36 years ... a
wealth of knowledge and
know-how!”
But LBA is
not only about
business – it’s also
about giving back to
the community which Lee
has done in spades with her
‘iThuba’ project, which focuses
on educating children from
underprivileged backgrounds
(see video on
iThuba on www.
leebotti.co.za).
A trained school
teacher, Lee saw
the need to teach
the children of
South Africa
how to go about
entering the
world of work.
Over the past
five years they
have seen over
5000 children
pass through
their doors. The project,
which has achieved
enormous success, is
not only her passion
but is close to the heart
of every staff member,
and a project that they
are all committed
to continuing
wholeheartedly to
grow.
“As we celebrate this
milestone and look back
on many fond memories,
we would like to thank
our loyal and valued
clients for their
support over the
last 40 years!
“We are
proud and grateful to be part
of this dynamic industry –
where our clients have become
candidates and our candidates
have become clients, where
we have seen shipping and
logistics evolve to supply
chain and where we have had
longstanding relationships
going back many years. Thank
you!
“We aim to maintain
our high ethics and
professionalism and look
forward to continuing to serve
the industry for
many more
years.”
INSERT
Business growth
is about never
standing still,
it's about adding
value.
CAPTION
Directors Kim Botti and Jill Morris
CAPTION
Thembelihle Senior Secondary School attends an iThuba workshop.
CAPTION
Lee receiving FTW award for 25th anniversary.
CAPTION
Lee with some of the industry doyens at the company’s 25th anniversary.
CAPTION
Lee receives long standing award from APSO President,
Jacqui Ford.
CAPTION
Staff visit Cape Town to celebrate 40th anniversary.
CAPTION
Lee with Melanie Trollip, CEO of P E Corporate Services.