Full Name: Arne Hojriis Frandsen

Position: Partner and CEO of Pallinghurst Group; executive deputy chairperson of Sedibelo Platinum Mines; director of KellTech and Fabergé

Main Activity of the Company: Mining and metals beneficiation

Date and Place of Birth: December 22, 1966, Denmark

Education: BA, LLB, Master in Law, University of Copenhagen; three years of postgraduate research at Stellenbosch University and Tokai University, Japan

First Job: Delivering Sunday newspapers

Size of First Pay Packet: R40 a month

First Job with Present Group: CEO and partner

Career History Prior to Current Position: Goldman Sachs, 1993 to 1997; JPMorgan Chase, 1997 to 2005; Incwala Resources, 2005 to 2006, Pallinghurst Group, 2006 to date

Value of Assets under Your Control: R40-billion

Number of People under Your Leadership: Pallinghurst is a lean, mean holding company with fewer than 50 employees, but there are some 5 000 employees in underlying companies it controls, of whom 2 500 are in South Africa

Management Style: Inspirational, leading the team effort from the front – saying “we” – not “I”

Personal Best Achievement: Having been part of creating 5 000 sustainable jobs in Africa

Professional Best Achievement: Record of more than 20 years’ value-creating transactions and capital raisings

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My wife and my parents

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Brian Gilbertson

Person Whom You Would Most Like to Meet: Any kind person with integrity who follows his or her passion

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Brian Gilbertson

Philosophy of Life: Whatever you do, take pride and be kind

Biggest Ever Opportunity: The chance to study at great universities in Denmark, South Africa and Japan

Biggest Ever Disappointment: I do not dwell on disappointments, as this creates negative and destructive energy

Hope for the Future: That I remain healthy and am able to support the less fortunate

Favourite Reading: Biographies

Favourite TV programme: I do not watch TV

Favourite Food/Drink: Waterblommetjie bredie and Bourbon Sour (not together)

Favourite Music: Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff

Favourite Sport: Cricket

Favourite Website: www.bbc.co.uk

Hobbies: Brewing beer (rather good at it!)

Car: Fiat 500

Pets: West Highland terrier, Tintin

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Lack of integrity and injustice

Favourite Other South African Company: SABMiller

Favourite Foreign Company: NovoNordisk

Married: To Fransie, a South African-born children’s books writer and illustrator

Children: Two – Alexander and Talitha

Clubs: I do not believe in clubs – they either keep people out or lock them in