Full Name: Paul Martin Joseph Gardner Thomson
Position: CEO of DRA Group Holdings
Main Activity of the Company: Engineering and projects management services in the mining industry
Date and Place of Birth: July 21, 1962, Tunbridge Wells, England
Education: Basic education at various schools in Natal, rounded off with a Transvaal matric at Settlers Agricultural High School, followed by a national diploma in nuclear technology and a BEng (metallurgy) from the University of Pretoria
First Job: Learner technician at the Atomic Energy Corporation, Pelindaba
Size of First Pay Packet: R5 000 a month
Number of People Under Your Leadership: DRA employs 3 000 people
Management Style: Participative, empowering subordinates
Personal Best Achievement: My family is my best achievement – they provide me with support, pride and balance
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My wife, who supported our family while I studied
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: An operator at Palabora Mining Company, who taught me that you can learn from everyone if you just listen, and Brian Dowding, founder of DRA, who trusted me to run Minopex
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Any of the Apollo astronauts that are still alive
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Steve Jobs, Elon Musk and Bill Gates, who all started with nothing but had belief in what they were doing and thus changed the world
Philosophy of Life: A combination of do unto others as you would have done to you and live and let live
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Leading DRA
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Disappointments are only short in nature – you need to accept the disappointment and focus on an achievable future
Hope for the Future: That government starts focusing on creating an enabling environment for business so that real growth and transformation can take place
Favourite Reading: Dan Brown and John Grisham
Favourite TV Programme: Any British detective series
Favourite Food/Drink: A good steak/whisky
Favourite Music: 60s and 70s rock with a dash of Pink Floyd
Favourite Sport: I love watching all sports but draw the line at darts and snooker. Although I love sports, I am not very skilled in any one sport
Hobbies: DIY at home and offroad/overland touring
Car: Toyota Prado
Pets: Four Yorkshire terriers, one Airedale terrier and three cats
Miscellaneous Dislikes: People who think that they are ‘bigger than the game’
Married: To Isabel, for 28 years this year
Children: Nicolas, 26; Justin, 21; Aimee, 17
Clubs: None