Full Name: Arne Hojriis Frandsen
Position: Partner and CEO of Pallinghurst Group; executive deputy chairperson of Sedibelo Platinum Mines; director of KellTech and Fabergé
Main Activity of the Company: Mining and metals beneficiation
Date and Place of Birth: December 22, 1966, Denmark
Education: BA, LLB, Master in Law, University of Copenhagen; three years of postgraduate research at Stellenbosch University and Tokai University, Japan
First Job: Delivering Sunday newspapers
Size of First Pay Packet: R40 a month
First Job with Present Group: CEO and partner
Career History Prior to Current Position: Goldman Sachs, 1993 to 1997; JPMorgan Chase, 1997 to 2005; Incwala Resources, 2005 to 2006, Pallinghurst Group, 2006 to date
Value of Assets under Your Control: R40-billion
Number of People under Your Leadership: Pallinghurst is a lean, mean holding company with fewer than 50 employees, but there are some 5 000 employees in underlying companies it controls, of whom 2 500 are in South Africa
Management Style: Inspirational, leading the team effort from the front – saying “we” – not “I”
Personal Best Achievement: Having been part of creating 5 000 sustainable jobs in Africa
Professional Best Achievement: Record of more than 20 years’ value-creating transactions and capital raisings
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My wife and my parents
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Brian Gilbertson
Person Whom You Would Most Like to Meet: Any kind person with integrity who follows his or her passion
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Brian Gilbertson
Philosophy of Life: Whatever you do, take pride and be kind
Biggest Ever Opportunity: The chance to study at great universities in Denmark, South Africa and Japan
Biggest Ever Disappointment: I do not dwell on disappointments, as this creates negative and destructive energy
Hope for the Future: That I remain healthy and am able to support the less fortunate
Favourite Reading: Biographies
Favourite TV programme: I do not watch TV
Favourite Food/Drink: Waterblommetjie bredie and Bourbon Sour (not together)
Favourite Music: Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff
Favourite Sport: Cricket
Favourite Website: www.bbc.co.uk
Hobbies: Brewing beer (rather good at it!)
Car: Fiat 500
Pets: West Highland terrier, Tintin
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Lack of integrity and injustice
Favourite Other South African Company: SABMiller
Favourite Foreign Company: NovoNordisk
Married: To Fransie, a South African-born children’s books writer and illustrator
Children: Two – Alexander and Talitha
Clubs: I do not believe in clubs – they either keep people out or lock them in