Full Name: Ralf Cord Hennecke
Position: GM: international marketing at BME
Main Activity of the Company: African market development
Date and Place of Birth: May 17, 1967, Hamburg, Germany
Education: I am a mining engineer who holds an MBA and a mine manager’s certificate of competence
First Job: Learner official at Rand Mines, 1987
Size of First Pay Packet: R450 a month
Value of Assets under Your Control: Sizeable market and infinite personnel assets!
Number of People Under Your Leadership: 600-plus
Management Style: Participative and enabling, but delivery focused
Personal Best Achievement: My family
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: Both my parents
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Most people I have worked with had some influence on me
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Nelson Mandela
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Ricardo Semler, author of Maverick!
Philosophy of Life: Just do it! and “The only time ‘success’ comes before ‘work’ is in the dictionary.”
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Developing the African market for my current company from a virtual zero base
Biggest Ever Disappointment: That my late mother never had an opportunity to enjoy her granddaughter
Hope For the Future: A united and functioning South Africa, and that the rhino will survive
Favourite Reading: Autobiographies (mainly business, adventure and sport)
Favourite TV Programme: All sport and news
Favourite Food/Drink: Good old South African braai (with all the accessories)
Favourite Music: All genres, but especially 70s and 80s
Favourite Sport: Soccer and golf
Hobbies: Travel, sport and music
Car: VW Touareg
Pets: Scottie (Cody) and Jack Russell (Harry)
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Traffic, nonresponsiveness (slowness), dishonesty
Married: To Katja, for 17 years
Children: Kirsten Nadia, 4
Clubs: Eagle Canyon Golf Club and Virgin Active Gym