Full Name: Pieter van Greunen
Position: GM: Gamsberg, Vedanta Zinc International
Main Activity of the Company: Opencast zinc mining and zinc concentration
Date and Place of Birth: June 4, 1970, Bellville, Western Cape, South Africa
Education: MBA, University of Potchefstroom, 2002; BSc (Hons) (mechanical engineering), University of Pretoria, 1999; national higher diploma (extractive metallurgy), Vaal Triangle Technikon, 1994; Oudtshoorn High School, 1988
First Job: Metallurgist at Freegold, Welkom
Size of First Pay Packet: R 1 000 a month
Career Path to Date: 2013 to 2019: De Beers – head of metallurgy, loss prevention and security: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Canada, the UK, India, Europe, China and the US; 2009 to 2013: Anglo American – head of asset optimisation: Africa, Australia and South America; 2002 to 2009: the Namzinc operation of Anglo Base Metals, in Namibia, as assistant to the GM, refinery manager, metallurgical manager, operations manager, production manager and plant manager; 2001 to 2002: Ergo, AngloGold Ashanti – plant production superintendent and plant manager; 1994 to 2001: AngloGold Welkom – plant manager, plant production superintendent and metallurgist
Value of Assets under Your Control: 4.4-million tons of ore, 31-million tons of waste and 250 000 t of zinc concentrate
Number of People under Your Leadership: 900
Management Style: Safety first, collaborative, inclusive, people focused, community focused, technical excellence
Personal Best Achievement: Meeting Ezelle and having two great children, and completing the TransBaviaans Mountain Bike Race
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: There have been so many, but, if I have to choose one, it would be Uncle Ben, my first plant manager at Freegold, who taught me the values of mining and what it means for people and families
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: The younger me. There are so many things we learn daily and forget to learn again – I would advise my younger self to make more time for people and for myself
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Elon Musk
Philosophy of Life: Be true to yourself and pay it forward
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Receiving a bursary to study engineering
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Missing out on becoming a plant manager at 28 – this propelled my career and I started to work to develop myself
Hope for the Future: I believe in South Africa and want to play a major role in developing this country and its people
Favourite Reading: Diamonds, Gold, and War, by Martin Meredith
Favourite TV Programme: Sports
Favourite Food/Drink: Bunny Chow, braai vleis/red wine
Favourite Music: The 80s, Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole
Favourite Sport: Cricket
Hobbies: Scuba diving, mountain biking and long-range precision shooting
Car: A 1970 VW Kombi and a Fortuner 4 x 4
Pets: Molly, a Labrador, and Trixie, a Doberman pinscher
Married: To Ezelle Van Greunen (née Van Aarde)
Children: Anke, 22; Gunter, 19
Clubs: Golf and Lawn Bowls Club, Aggeneys