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