Some previous winners of ITWeb’s IT Personality of the Year Award have been flamboyant characters, mavericks with a flashy persona or a daring streak that makes them stand out in a crowd.

This year’s winner, Sbu Shabalala, is the exact opposite. The CEO of Adapt IT seems a careful, considered and measured kind of man. He’s someone who thinks about every angle, stays out of the limelight and quietly gets things done. He’s a solid pair of hands, which is exactly what’s needed in these times of economic and political instability.