Full Name: Quentin van Breda
Position: Executive chairperson
Main Activity of the Company: SA French is a distributor of Potain tower cranes, Merlo telescopic handlers and self-loading mixers and Saltec-Torgar material and passenger hoists
Date and Place of Birth: Benoni May 3, 1952
Education: PrTechEng, CPFA, University of the Witwatersrand
First Job: GEC Machines Benoni
Career History Prior to Current Position: Product manager, Babcock JJJ Potain
Size of First Pay Packet: R100 a month
First Job with Present Group: I founded SA French in 1982
Value of Assets under Your Control: R120-million
Number of People under Your Leadership: 70
Management Style: Open-door, not autocratic, but partici- pative
Personal Best Achievement: A son and a daughter, both of whom are qualified and successful in their careers
Professional Best Achievement: Starting SA French in two 40 ft containers with five people and growing it to where it is today
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My parents
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Harold Johnson
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Vusi Pikoli
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Harold Johnson
Philosophy of Life: Show honesty and integrity in everything you do
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Starting SA French
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Losing my mother too soon
Hope for the Future: That South Africa extricates itself from uncertainty and becomes an example to Africa and the rest of the world
Favourite Reading: Books relating to people and periods in South Africa
Favourite TV Programme: Blue Bloods
Favourite Food/Drink: Shellfish/dry white wine
Favourite Music: 70s and The Rat Pack
Favourite Sport: Cricket
Favourite Website: Google, as a search engine for anything required
Hobbies: DIY in any discipline
Car: Mercedes-Benz C320
Pets: Three cats, a dog and tropical fish
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Unruly children, bad manners, not switching cellphones off in meetings
Favourite Other South African Company: Bell Equipment
Favourite Foreign Company: Manitowoc Crane Group
Married: To Gail, since December 18, 2008
Children: Warwick, 33; Leanne, 31
Clubs: Virgin Active Bedfordview