Full Name: Dean Roy Cunningham
Position: MD of ASX-listed Auroch Minerals NL since January 2013
Main Activity of the Company: Auroch Minerals is an African mineral exploration company active on the Manica gold project, in Mozambique
Date and Place of Birth: December 11, 1959, Zimbabwe
Education: Nettleton Primary School, Zimbabwe; Prince Edward High School, Zimbabwe; King Edward VII School, Johannesburg, matric 1979; University of the Witwatersrand, BSc (Mining) (Hons), 1985
First Job: Lecturer at Wits Technikon School of Mines, 1988
Career History Prior to Current Position: Gold analyst, global mining equity sales, asset management, investment banking and private equity
Size of First Pay Packet: R120 000 a year
First Job with Present Group: MD
Value of Assets under Your Control: The company’s market capitalisation is A$8-million
Number of People under Your Leadership: 81 employees in Mozambique, 71 of them Mozambicans
Management Style: Open-door and transparent – I also listen to what others have to say
Personal Best Achievement: A three-hour 94.7 Cycle race and a subpar round of golf
Professional Best Achievement: Rating as a gold, coal and platinum analyst
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My wife and my family
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Peter Allen, of Edey Rogers
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: George Soros
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Ian Cockerill
Philosophy of Life: Open and honest, one step at a time
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Running and managing this publicly listed company and having respect for other people’s money and trying to get the best bang for their cash in a very difficult environment
Biggest Ever Disappointment: The US and Europe have been the big finger wagging at us, and the rest of the developing economies, for so long, telling us how to run our businesses, and they have created the biggest financial issues that exist. It’s going to be up to us to turn those legacies around and turn the negatives into positives
Hope for the Future: An integrated and successful African continent that manages its resources well
Favourite Reading: Biographies and economics books
Favourite TV Programme: There is only one – 24
Favourite Food/Drink: Italian/sparkling water
Favourite Music: A blend of everything
Favourite Sport: Golf and the Boks
Hobbies: Spending quality time with my family and friends, playing golf
Car: Landy
Pets: Dogs and cats
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Rude, inconsiderate people
Married: To Nicola since December 10, 1988
Children: Catherine, 22; Rebecca, 19; and Isabella, 10
Clubs: Country Club Johannesburg