Hadley Natus, chairperson of the board of Tantalex Lithium Resources Corp
Full Name: Hadley Jareth Natus
Position and Company Name: Chairperson of the board of Tantalex Lithium Resources Corp
Main Activity of the Company: Lithium, tin and tantalum exploration and development
Date and Place of Birth: June 28, 1982, Cape Town, South Africa
Schools and Tertiary Education: Computer science
First Job: A packer at the Spar
Size of First Pay Packet: R3 000 a month
Career Path to Date: I started my career in the industry in 2007, when I joined Trafigura in Lucerne, Switzerland. I moved to MRI Trading in 2014, started AfriMet Resources Ag in 2019 and joined the board of Tantalex Lithium Resources in 2020
Value of Assets under Your Control: Tantalex Lithium Resources has a market capitalisation of $50-million (Canadian) and AfriMet has a balance sheet of $59-million
Number of People under Your Leadership: About 120
Management Style: I like to employ people who have the knowledge and experience to work independently. I also like to hire people I can learn from
Personal Best Achievement: My family
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: Not stated
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: There are a few people. Gary Le Men and Matthew Botell were my first set of mentors at Trafigura. Although I did not work closely with Claude Dauphane, what he had built made a major impression on my life and where I wanted to be someday
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Howard Marks
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Howard Schulzt, Lee Iacocca and Marc Rich
Philosophy of Life: “Risk more than others think is safe. Care more than others think is wise. Dream more than others think is practical. Expect more than others think is possible.”
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Joining Trafigura after working in a bar
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Losing my baby brother at the age of 16 when it would not have taken much to make sure he would be safe
Hope for the Future: That I can perform well enough to look after all the people that are dependent on me
Favourite Reading: Biographies
Favourite TV Programme: Bloomberg
Favourite Food/Drink: Gin and tonic with cucumber – serves the purpose of food, water, medicine and fun
Favourite Music: I’m still secretly a Michael Jackson fan
Favourite Sport: Soccer, rugby and Formula 1
Hobbies: What I do now
Car: Mercedes-Benz
Pets: None yet – I need a house for that
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Discrimination
Married: To Carmen Natus
Children: Hazel, Jayden and Maxime
Clubs: Not now