Full Name: Dean Roy Cunningham

Position: MD of ASX-listed Auroch Minerals NL since January 2013

Main Activity of the Company: Auroch Minerals is an African mineral exploration company active on the Manica gold project, in Mozambique

Date and Place of Birth: December 11, 1959, Zimbabwe

Education: Nettleton Primary School, Zimbabwe; Prince Edward High School, Zimbabwe; King Edward VII School, Johannesburg, matric 1979; University of the Witwatersrand, BSc (Mining) (Hons), 1985

First Job: Lecturer at Wits Technikon School of Mines, 1988

Career History Prior to Current Position: Gold analyst, global mining equity sales, asset management, investment banking and private equity

Size of First Pay Packet: R120 000 a year

First Job with Present Group: MD

Value of Assets under Your Control: The company’s market capitalisation is A$8-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: 81 employees in Mozambique, 71 of them Mozambicans

Management Style: Open-door and transparent – I also listen to what others have to say

Personal Best Achievement: A three-hour 94.7 Cycle race and a subpar round of golf

Professional Best Achievement: Rating as a gold, coal and platinum analyst

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

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Peter Allen, of Edey Rogers

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: George Soros

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Ian Cockerill

Philosophy of Life: Open and honest, one step at a time

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Running and managing this publicly listed company and having respect for other people’s money and trying to get the best bang for their cash in a very difficult environment

Biggest Ever Disappointment: The US and Europe have been the big finger wagging at us, and the rest of the developing economies, for so long, telling us how to run our businesses, and they have created the biggest financial issues that exist. It’s going to be up to us to turn those legacies around and turn the negatives into positives

Hope for the Future: An integrated and successful African continent that manages its resources well

Favourite Reading: Biographies and economics books

Favourite TV Programme: There is only one – 24

Favourite Food/Drink: Italian/sparkling water

Favourite Music: A blend of everything

Favourite Sport: Golf and the Boks

Hobbies: Spending quality time with my family and friends, playing golf

Car: Landy

Pets: Dogs and cats

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Rude, inconsiderate people

Married: To Nicola since December 10, 1988

Children: Catherine, 22; Rebecca, 19; and Isabella, 10

Clubs: Country Club Johannesburg