Full Name: James Gordon Allan

Position: CEO of JSE-listed Sable Platinum

Main Activity of the Company: Exploration for platinum-group metals and vanadium and iron-ore

Date and Place of Birth: October 26, 1958, Harare, Zimbabwe

Education: BSc Eng (Mining), MBA

First Job: Miner

Size of First Pay Packet: Z$750 (when the Zimbabwe dollar was worth slightly more than the rand!)

Value of Assets under Your Control: Market capitalisation of R180-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: Eight

Management Style: Democratic and leading by example

Personal Best Achievement: Achieving an additional $2 a share for the De Beers minorities in 2001

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My son, Oliver – 19/12/2001–22/2/2009

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Dr Hilton Davies and Paul Barnard

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Joel Stransky

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Gary Ralfe, MD of De Beers

Philosophy of Life: Work hard, create your own opportunities

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Crossing the Limpopo river to live in South Africa in 1985

Biggest Ever Disappointment: When I asked my wife, Pippa, to marry me and she said: “I need to think about that”

Hope for the Future: That South Africa achieves its potential and develops a more shared set of values

Favourite Reading: Economic history and John Grisham

Favourite TV Programme: Spooks

Favourite Food/Drink: Prawns on a braai/tea

Favourite Music: Freshly Ground, Owl City and Cold Play

Favourite Sport: Hiking (haven’t done that in a while) and walking on the beach with my family

Hobbies: Walking trails in the Kruger Park and fly-fishing

Car: 2001 Land Cruiser

Pets: A golden Labrador and golden retriever (they don’t make them in platinum!) and a Jack Russell

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Dishonesty, laziness, corruption and Sandton City

Married: To Pippa

Children: Gemma, 16; Oliver (19/12/2001–22/2/2009); Jonathan, four months

Clubs: Rand Club and Johannesburg Country Club