Full Name: Zanele Matlala

Position: CEO of Merafe Resources since June 2012

Main Activity of the Company: Chrome mining and ferrochrome production through investment in the Glencore-Merafe Chrome Venture

Date and Place of Birth: Kagiso, Krugersdorp, 1963

Education: BCom, University of South Africa, 1993; BCompt (Hons), 1996; CA (SA), 1997

First Job: Volunteer primary school teacher in Soweto

Size of First Pay Packet: R150 a month

First Job With Present Group: CFO, 2010

Value of Assets under Your Control: The market capitalisation of JSE-listed Merafe is R2-billion-plus

Number of People under Your Leadership: The Glencore-Merafe Chrome Venture employs more than 6 000 full-time employees in Limpopo and the North West; there are 11 people in the Merafe head office, in Sandton

Management Style: Goal-focused with a strong desire to get things done

Personal Best Achievement: Raising a family while focusing on my career and qualifying as a chartered accountant

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My late mother, Margaret

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: A very supportive manager at Permanent Building Society (the Perm), a very encouraging partner at Arthur Andersen and a great CEO at Kagiso

Career Prior to Joining Merafe: Banking hall manager, the Perm, at age 23; articled clerk, Arthur Andersen, Durban; wholesale venture capital funds head and account manager: project finance, Industrial Development Corporation; CFO, Development Bank of Southern Africa; and group FD, Kagiso Trust Investments
Nonexecutive Directorships: Stefanutti Stocks, Dipula Property Income Fund and Business Partners

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Barack Obama, a person who has made it against all odds

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Gill Marcus, for her vision, energy and truly inspiring personality

Philosophy of Life: You get out what you put in

Biggest Ever Opportunity: The opportunity to study while working, after starting work straight out of high school

Biggest Ever Disappointment: During my time as an investment banker, I would always look back on the deals that did not work out and ask what I could have done better, but I cannot single out a specific disappointment as my biggest ever

Hope for the Future: That Merafe becomes a highly successful empowered mining company

Favourite Reading: Biographies and business books

Favourite TV Programme: Current affairs

Favourite Food/Drink: I like travelling and I enjoy trying the foods of different countries. A glass of good wine is always good when I dine out and at work I am forever drinking tea or coffee

Favourite Music: Jazz

Favourite Sport: I watch soccer, but only the big games, and I also watch golf, but also only the bigger tournaments

Hobbies: I enjoy reading, walking and spending time with my family

Car: Mercedes-Benz

Pets: My daughter has a hamster, but I do not have any pets of my own

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Insincerity and dishonesty

Married: Single

Children: Two sons, Luyanda and Thibedi, and a daughter, Naledi

Clubs: None