Full name: Lourens Wilhelm de Koning
Position: COO at Fraser Alexander
Main Activity of the Company: Fraser Alexander is a partner in the mining and industrial sectors, delivering world-class outsourced services and providing innovative solutions and infrastructure required to move, manage and add value to resources, mine waste and water systems across the mining value chain
Date and Place of Birth: November 10, 1978, Pretoria
Education: BEng (civil), BEng (Hons) (geotechnical), University of Pretoria (UP); MEng (project management) – in progress – Graduate School of Technology Management, UP
First Job: On a road construction project as a student, in 1998. My first full-time employment was with SRK Consulting after graduating in 2001
Size of First Pay Packet: R6 500 a month as a graduate engineer
Value of Assets under Your Control: Fraser Alexander has a net asset value of more than R700-million
Number of People under Your Leadership: 3 690
Management Style: Collaborative and empowered team approach. I am a great believer that accountability at the right level results in the highest efficiency
Personal Best Achievement: The birth of my children
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My parents, Andre and Linda – who laid a solid foundation of faith, love, humility, respect, discipline and hard work – and my wife, Tanya, who supports me throughout
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: I have had great mentors in my career: Johan Boshoff, who was my senior engineer in the early part of my career, as well as Mike Smith and Frik Venter, who have mentored me during my development to date
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Graham Henry, the All Blacks coach
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Elon Musk
Philosophy of Life: Through hard work and accountability, anything can be achieved
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Joining a small mining services firm in 2006 afforded me the opportunity to be part of a team growing a business that had been given the mandate to take on challenges and make the best of them
Biggest Ever Disappointment: I have had many disappointments but nothing stands out
Hope for the Future: That South Africa reaches its full potential
Favourite Reading: The news
Favourite TV Programmes: Billions and Suits
Favourite Food/Drink: Braai, steak, Irish whiskey and red wine
Favourite Music: Anything with a catchy beat
Favourite Sport: Rugby, tennis and golf
Hobbies: Golf, squash, spending time with the family, cycling, fishing and having fun
Car: Mercedes-Benz
Pets: A Jack Russel
Miscellaneous Dislikes: A sense of entitlement, overselling and poor service
Married: To Tanya
Children: Clarice, 5; Ruben, 3
Clubs: I am a member of the South African Institute of Civil Engineers and the Geosynthetics Interest Group of South Africa and a registered professional engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa