Full Name: Wilco Uys

Position: CEO of Tshipi é Ntle Manganese Mining

Main Activity of the Company: Manganese mining

Date and Place of Birth: March 20, 1958, Kimberley

Education: BEng (mining) Hons, University of Pretoria; MBL, University of South Africa

First Job: Learner miner, Sasol Mining

Size of First Pay Packet: R179 a month

Value of Assets under Your Control: The market capitalisation of the company is R3.5-billion

Number of People under Your Leadership: The company has 1000 employees, including service providers

Management Style: Participative and decisive

Personal Best Achievement: I do not take appointments, promotions or awards for granted. Each one of these is special to me. There are two, however, that stand out: a Sasol bursary to study mining engineering and my appointment as CEO

People Who Have Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My late grandmother, Nellie, my late mother, Kobie and my wife, Era

People Who Have Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: I was fortunate to have many people who took a keen interest in my career. They are my brother, Johann, Xolani Mkhwanazi, Les Weiss, Luc Sellis, Phil Crous, the late Ben Leach, Ray Mordt, Peter Rohlssen, Ben Smith and Manie Dreyer

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Vladimir Putin

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Marius Kloppers

Philosophy of Life: Life is a God-given gift that should not be wasted. Use your talents to the full, expand your circle of influence as much as possible and share your blessings with others. Leave a legacy. ‘Ora et Labora Diligenta!’

Biggest Ever Opportunity: The opportunity to successfully negotiate the current commodity slump, which, certainly, is the worst that our resources leadership generation has ever faced

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Disappointments are part of life and I have had many, some controllable and some not. I do not nurture disappointments and setbacks

Hope for the Future: A united, prosperous South Africa, where all leaders put the country and its people first

Favourite Reading: I do not read much. I rather watch documentaries on wars and military campaigns

Favourite TV Programme: Sport, Discovery Channel and History Channel

Favourite Food/Drink: I have no favourite food as we in South Africa simply have the most amazing diverse food choices in the world. Choice is determined by location and friends. To drink, I favour craft beer, whiskey and South African white wine

Favourite Music: All types of music except jazz. My favourite artists are Neil Diamond, Luciano Pavarotti (especially the DVD Duets) and Debbie Harry (Blondie)

Favourite Sports: Rugby (Blue Bulls and Springboks), cricket (Unlimited Titans and Proteas) and golf

Hobbies: Hunting, beekeeping and flying drones

Car: Toyota Land Cruiser station wagon

Pets: Two mischievous beagles

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Dishonesty, arrogance and incompetence

Married: To Era, for 32 years

Children: Nadine, 27

Clubs: Bethal Golf Club