Richard Williams
Full Name: Richard Mark Williams
Position: CEO of the Gordon Verhoef & Krause group of companies, which was established in 1950
Main Activity of the Company: New building work, building renovation and restoration
Date and Place of Birth: September 22, 1961, Durban
Education: National higher diploma (civil engineering), Natal Technikon, 1986
First Job: Clerk in South African Railways’ financial department
Career History Prior to Current Position: Trainee at Murray & Roberts Natal, 1982 to 1986; site manager at Murray & Roberts specialist services, 1987; manager at Phoenix Construction (Civils), 1988 to 89; running my own domestic renovations business, 1990 to 1991; salesperson/quantity surveyor at Gordon Verhoef & Krause Natal, 1991 to 1994; MD of Gordon Verhoef & Krause EP, 1994 to 1998; MD of Gordon Verhoef & Krause Cape, 1998 to 2005; and CEO of the Gordon Verhoef & Krause group of companies, which incorporates GVK-Siya Zama, from 2008 to date
Size of First Pay Packet: R186 a month
First Job with Present Group: Salesperson/quantity surveyor
Value of Assets under Your Control: Turnover of R1-billion a year
Number of People under Your Leadership: 1 500
Management Style: Open door and collaborative
Personal Best Achievement: Meeting and marrying my wife, Glynis
Professional Best Achievement: With the help of my colleagues, growing GVK from a medium-sized renovation and restoration company to a significant player in the new build sector, while maintaining our traditional services and culture
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My wife
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: David Maughan, group MD of the Gordon Verhoef & Krause group
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Aung San Suu Kyi
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Richard Branson
Philosophy of Life: Decide what you want to do, do it, enjoy it, and keep it balanced
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Joining Gordon Verhoef & Krause as a construction rookie
Biggest Ever Disappointment: I cannot think of a significant disappointment that has not come with a valuable lesson
Hope for the Future: A South Africa with a world-class education system
Favourite Reading: Fiction – Scottish crime writer Ian Rankin, Indian-born Canadian Rohinton Mistry, the inimitable Tom Robbins and celebrated South African crime writer Deon Meyer; nonfiction – South African author Jonny Steinberg and a wide variety of other writers
Favourite TV Programme: Grand Designs
Favourite Food/Drink: Italian – pizza and pasta with lots of chilli
Favourite Music: Rock
Favourite Sport: Trail running
Favourite Website: Anything related to music, photography, travel and yoga
Hobbies: Wildlife photography, music, birding
Car: 2007 Land Rover Discovery
Pets: Two dogs and two cats – all rescues
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Procrastination and overuse of email and social media
Favourite Other South African Company: Mantelli’s
Favourite Foreign Company: Amazon
Married: To Glynis since December 1995
Children: Kelly, 16; Geena, 15
Clubs: Western Province Cricket Club (running section)
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