Full Name: Ronald Allan Holding
Position: CEO of Aim-quoted and JSE-listed Pan African Resources
Main Activity of the Company: Pan African is an Africa-focused precious metals producer, currently producing more than 200 000 oz of gold and platinum a year. The strategy of investing in long-life, high-grade operations with attractive margins and low-cash-cost profiles has the primary objective of ensuring continued growth in shareholder value. Pan African has a strong statement of financial position that enables the group to fund all on-mine capital expenditure from internally generated funds, while also generating a cash return for shareholders in the form of annual dividends
Date and Place of Birth: May 22, 1952, Odendaalsrus, Free State
Education: Matric, national diploma in metalliferous mining
First Job: Sampler at Rustenburg Platinum
Size of First Pay Packet: R95 a month
Value of Assets under Your Control: R4,8-billion
Number of People under Your Leadership: 6 000
Management Style: Open door, participative and a strong believer in completed staff work
Personal Best Achievement: Being appointed CEO of Pan African Resources
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My wife, Lettie
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Sam Goodwin
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Chuck Norris, although, if he is not available, then Elon R Musk (South African-born CEO of SpaceX)
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Elon R Musk
Philosophy of Life: Whether in one’s personal life, or in the work situation, decisions should be balanced and always be aware of the influence your words and deeds will have on others and your future
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Successfully completing the Evander acquisition and ameliorating the effects of the low-grade cycle by bringing some of the Evander potential organic projects to fruition, such as the Evander Tailings Retreatment Plant, which received board approval in March
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Continued constraints in the chrome market and the negative effect this has had on the Phoenix Platinum project
Hope for the Future: Naturally, an improved gold price and an industry in unison with all stakeholders
Favourite Reading: Jo Nesbø’s Harry Hole series and also anything to do with nature and game reserves
Favourite TV Programme: Currently, Game of Thrones and Vikings – Fargo is up there too
Favourite Food/Drink: Nothing beats a braai (tjops en wors) and good red wine under the stars.
Favourite Music: U2 – when they were in South Africa a few years back, I went to both the Johannesburg and Cape Town shows!
Favourite Sport: Rugby
Hobbies: Trips into game reserves, 4 X 4-ing and everything that goes with being in the bushveld
Car: I drive a Citroen C5 and a Land Rover Defender
Pets: A pug called Brandy
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Cultural Chinese food and apologetic people
Married: To Lettie
Children: Ronnie, 32; Brendon, 29; Marcel, 26
Clubs: None