Mark Munroe

15th March 2013 By: Martin Creamer - Creamer Media Editor

Full Name: Mark Craig Munroe

Position: Executive VP: mining of Lonmin since 2009

Main Activity of the Company: Mining, processing, refining and marketing of platinum-group metals

Date and Place of Birth: November 24, 1968, Klerksdorp

Education: Orkney Primary School; Welkom High School, matric, 1986; N2 and N3; BCom (economics), University of South Africa; national diploma, 1997, and national higher diploma in mining, 1998; IMDP, University of Stellenbosch/Anglo; PMD, Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, 2005

First Job: Onsetter, President Brand gold mine, 1987 – I am a third-generation Anglo American miner

Size of First Pay Packet: R1 200 a month

Career Path: Free State gold mines, Welkom; Western Deep Levels gold mine, Carletonville; Vaal Reefs gold mine, Orkney; production manager, Stilfontein gold mine; GM, Blyvooruitzicht gold mine; and CEO, DRD Capital. I also had a short stint as mine manager in Papua New Guinea prior to joining Lonmin as senior manager for mining

Value of Assets under Your Control: Market capitalisation of Lonmin is £1.9-billion (R26-billion)

Number of People under Your Leadership: 38 000, made up of 28 000 permanent employees and 10 000 contract personnel

Management Style: I adapt to the situation. I believe in full stakeholder involvement and in staying close to operations

Personal Best Achievement: Mine safety at Lonmin – the industry’s best

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: Jesus Christ

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Dave Heugh, Robbie Lazare and Ian Farmer

Person You Most Like to Meet: I appreciated the valuable guidance of Cyril Ramaphosa during Lonmin’s recent period of crisis

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Ian Farmer

Philosophy of Life: We are what we give to others

Biggest Ever Opportunity: The current opportunity to take Lonmin forward

Biggest Ever Disappointment: The Marikana tragedy

Hope for the Future: That South Africans find solutions to all their problems through respect for one another

Favourite Reading: I am currently reading the book Intent, by Etsko Schuitema, who is also my mentor

Favourite TV Programme: Generally, I don’t watch TV

Favourite Food/Drink: A South African braai/good red wine

Favourite Music: I do not have any favourite music

Favourite Sport: Rugby

Hobbies: I am actively involved in the Boy Scout movement

Car: BMW

Pets: A German shepherd named Amber

Miscellaneous Dislikes: People who fail to act with integrity; people who are not transparent

Married: To Laurette, whose grandfather was also a miner

Children: Damon, 10; Matthew, 6

Associations: I chair the Pecanwood School Parent-Teacher Association