Full Name: Johannes Hendrik (Hansie) van Vreden
Position: COO, Goldplat
Main Activity of the Company: Recovery of precious metals from by-products in metallurgical processes
Date and Place of Birth: November 4, 1980, Springs, Gauteng
Education: BEng (chemical: mineral processing), Stellenbosch University
First Job: Tour guide at Van Ryn Brandy Distillery, in Stellenbosch
Size of First Pay Packet: R120 a tour at the time – great for a student!
Value of Assets under Your Control: Goldplat has a market capitalisation of £12.5-million
Number of People under Your Leadership: Goldplat employs 450 people
Management Style: I try to approach my work the same way as when the Bible speaks about how the body has many parts, which are equally important and need one another to function. The same applies to employees and the business
Personal Best Achievement: Being the father of four awesome boys
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My wife, Mignon
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: I have had great mentors in my career thus far: Basie Maree, Frans du Plessis, Ian Smit and Michael Erickson, all from my AngloGold Ashanti days, as well as Dr Bob Smith, of Goldplat
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Harvey Specter, Suits
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Michael Jordaan, former CEO of First National Bank
Philosophy of Life: Grade 11 English teacher’s quote on our classroom wall: “You can’t change the direction of the wind, but you can always adjust your sails to reach your destiny”
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Secondment to the Sunrise Dam gold mine, in Western Australia (thank you, AngloGold Ashanti)
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Tuesday, March 24, 2015, South Africa vs New Zealand, Cricket World Cup semifinal . . . say no more
Hope for the Future: “You want to change your life? Change the way you think” – Harvey Specter
Favourite Reading: I am not a big reader (yet) but recently read my first Deon Meyer book, Ikarus – what a great book!
Favourite TV Programme: Suits
Favourite Food/Drink: Pasta/seafood/braai/lemon meringue/crème brûlée/coffee/wine/craft beer
Favourite Music: From classical to contemporary to jazz
Favourite Sport: Rugby (but we are at an all-time low, with the Boks ranked number seven in the world – such a sad state of affairs!), cricket and golf
Hobbies: I joined the ‘parkrun family’ towards the end of 2016 and am really enjoying it
Car: Mercedes-Benz
Pets: A Goldendoodle named Mowgli, an Amazon parrot named Figaro, 14 chickens (that I counted)
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Polystyrene (I cannot stand the stuff)
Married: To Mignon
Children: Joshua, 8; Lukas, 8; Simeon, 6; Benyah, 3
Clubs: St Cathryn’s Golf Club, Helderberg Residence Old Boys Club