Full Name: Rogan Davies

Position and Company Name: Group CEO of Rhino Energy Holdings

Main Activity of the Company: Rhino Energy is a solar engineering, procurement, construction and maintenance provider in South Africa. It has an established track record in designing, constructing, and maintaining some of the country’s largest commercial, industrial and agricultural solar installations, with almost 100 MWp in installed solar capacity, 30 MWh in battery energy storage system installations and 114 solar plants being maintained across the country. In addition to this, it owns several solar plants that sell electricity to clients through long-term power purchase agreements

Date and Place of Birth: September 17, 1971, Johannesburg

Schools and Tertiary Education: Dawnview High School, Germiston, east of Johannesburg; MBA with distinction from the University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science

First Job: Working in a gun shop in Edenvale, east of Johannesburg. This was the first time I realised I could sell

Size of First Pay Packet: R25 a week

Career Path to Date: I spent the first ten years of my career in franchised restaurants (Spur and Panarottis), and this was followed by roles at African Bank and ABSA before I joined Rhino Energy Holdings. It has been an interesting journey from restaurants to banking and now solar

Value of Assets under Your Control: R250-million in solar power purchase agreement plants across South Africa

Number of People under Your Leadership: 123

Management Style: Much like an instructor teaching a student to fly a plane, I will at first be the captain, with you in the seat next to me. Once you become acquainted with everything, you will gradually take over the plane and fly it. Soon enough, you will be the captain and I will be air traffic control – we agree on the destination and check-in points, and you get on with it, but I am always there in case of an emergency

Personal Best Achievement: Getting married to Melanie after pursuing her for ten years

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My wife, Melanie – she keeps me grounded and true to our family values

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: An old colleague from African Bank, Dr Louis Carstens, who believed in me and gave me opportunities early in my career while pushing me at the same time. We have remained in contact to this day

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Elon Musk

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Anton Rupert

Philosophy of Life: Mistakes and errors will happen along the way but when they do, make sure your next few decisions are good; otherwise, you can spiral downwards. A series of good decisions will always get you out of trouble, even if it takes a bit of time. Our family motto is: ‘If you are stupid, you better be tough, because stupidity will hurt’

Biggest Ever Opportunity: The opportunity to become the CEO of Rhino Energy Holdings

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Not doing more in my 20s

Hope for the Future: To live in a prosperous and successful South Africa

Favourite Reading: Any autobiography about sportspersons or businesspeople who have done extraordinary things

Favourite TV Programme: Peaky Blinders

Favourite Food/Drink: My ‘death row’ or ‘last meal’ would be a lamb on the spit and Tiramisu for desert

Favourite Music: Queen, U2 or anything from the 80s

Favourite Sport: English Premiership soccer – I am a Liverpool FC supporter

Hobbies: Fly-fishing and padel

Car: Toyota

Pets: Two rescue puppies, Paxton and Amie, and an older rescue cat called Bella

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Not telling me the truth or sharing bad news quickly

Married: To Melanie

Children: Robin, 28; Andrew, 24; Jenna, 20

Clubs: Cedar Padel