Full Name: Graham Kerr

Position: CEO-elect of South32, the global diversified metals and mining company being demerged out of BHP Billiton

Main Activity of the Company: Production of thermal and metallurgical coal, manganese ore and manganese alloys, alumina and aluminium, nickel and ferronickel, silver, lead and zinc

Date and Place of Birth: Fremantle, Western Australia, April 17, 1971

Education: South Fremantle High School; Bachelor of Business, Edith Cowan University, Perth; Fellow of Certified Public Accountants, Australia

First Job: Digging holes for septic tanks while still at high school

Size of First Pay Packet: $30 for each tank sunk

Value of Assets under Your Control: Analysts put it at between $15-billion and $20-billion, but the market will price South32 when it lists on the ASX and the JSE in mid-2015

Number of People under Your Leadership: 24 000

Management Style: Building high-performing teams and delivering great outcomes

Personal Best Achievements: Being part of the team that built the Ekati diamond mine, in Canada, which developed into a highly profitable operation and benefited the indigenous people in one of the world’s most pristine environments; then being appointed president of the BHP Billiton Diamond & Specialty Business, which ran Ekati; and creating the potash opportunity in Saskatchewan

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My father, an immigrant to Australia from Scotland, who was the hardest-working person I have ever come across

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Marius Kloppers

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: I would have loved to meet the late Nelson Mandela

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Richard Goyder, of Wesfarmers

Philosophy of Life: Leave nothing on the track. You get one crack at life – make the most of it

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Potash and, going forward, South32, where the sky’s the limit

Biggest Ever Disappointment: The death of five people in a helicopter crash during BHP Billiton’s big diamond exploration programme in Angola in 2007

Hope for the Future: That South32 delivers value for its shareholders and makes a positive contribution to all its stakeholders

Favourite Reading: Everything from fiction and biographies to The Economist and newspapers

Favourite TV Programme: The Wire

Favourite Food/Drink: Beer is my favourite drink but I am easy when it comes to food

Favourite Music: U2

Favourite Sport: Australian rules football – it is my passion

Hobbies: Kayaking and paddling with the children

Car: Land Rover

Pets: Two Labradors, two cats and fish

Miscellaneous Dislikes: None

Married: To Nicole

Children: Braden, 15; Rylee, 12; Morgan, 10; Ethan, 7

Clubs: Fremantle Football Club