Full Name: Charl Groenewald
Position: Barloworld Equipment Southern Africa customer support executive
Main Activity of the Company: Caterpillar dealer for Southern Africa, Iberia, Siberia and Russia Far East
Date and Place of Birth: October 14, 1969, Cape Town
Education: Rondebosch Boys High School; BCompt, University of South Africa; GDA, University of Cape Town; CA(SA); Digging Deep, Cat/Duke University
First Job: Trainee accountant, Price Waterhouse
Size of First Pay Packet: R750 a month
Value of Assets under Your Control: About R4-billion
Number of People under Your Leadership: Direct, about 600; indirect influence, 3 500
Management Style: Participative and transformational
Personal Best Achievement: Getting my wife to say “I do”
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My uncle and my wife
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: A select bunch of mentors
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Elon Musk
Businesspeople Who Have Impressed You Most: Brian Joffe and Ed Rapp
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Leading the customer support team at Barloworld Equipment Southern Africa
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Retrenching employees
Hope for the Future: Strong leaders build a better South Africa and a better world for my children to experience
Favourite Reading: Autobiographies, crime drama
Favourite TV Programme: Comedy series, including Friends, The Big Bang Theory and Modern Family
Favourite Food/Drink: Old red wine
Favourite Music: Soft rock, pop
Favourite Sport: Rugby, short-version cricket, golf
Hobbies: Playing golf, consuming great wine
Car: Volvo
Pets: Five dogs
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Dishonesty and pessimism
Married: To Amanda
Children: Dillon, 17; Amy, 3
Clubs, Organisations: Kyalami Golf Club, South African Institute of Chartered Accountants