Full Name: Ralf Cord Hennecke

Position: GM: international marketing at BME

Main Activity of the Company: African market development

Date and Place of Birth: May 17, 1967, Hamburg, Germany

Education: I am a mining engineer who holds an MBA and a mine manager’s certificate of competence

First Job: Learner official at Rand Mines, 1987

Size of First Pay Packet: R450 a month

Value of Assets under Your Control: Sizeable market and infinite personnel assets!

Number of People Under Your Leadership: 600-plus

Management Style: Participative and enabling, but delivery focused

Personal Best Achievement: My family

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: Both my parents

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Most people I have worked with had some influence on me

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Nelson Mandela

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Ricardo Semler, author of Maverick!

Philosophy of Life: Just do it! and “The only time ‘success’ comes before ‘work’ is in the dictionary.”

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Developing the African market for my current company from a virtual zero base

Biggest Ever Disappointment: That my late mother never had an opportunity to enjoy her granddaughter

Hope For the Future: A united and functioning South Africa, and that the rhino will survive

Favourite Reading: Autobiographies (mainly business, adventure and sport)

Favourite TV Programme: All sport and news

Favourite Food/Drink: Good old South African braai (with all the accessories)

Favourite Music: All genres, but especially 70s and 80s

Favourite Sport: Soccer and golf

Hobbies: Travel, sport and music

Car: VW Touareg

Pets: Scottie (Cody) and Jack Russell (Harry)

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Traffic, nonresponsiveness (slowness), dishonesty

Married: To Katja, for 17 years

Children: Kirsten Nadia, 4

Clubs: Eagle Canyon Golf Club and Virgin Active Gym