Full Name: Richard ‘Rick’ Menell
Position: Chairperson of Credit Suisse, Johannesburg; deputy chairperson Gold Fields; nonexecutive director of Sibanye Gold, Rockwell Diamonds and Weir Group
Main Activity of the Companies: Mining, engineering and finance
Date and Place of Birth: 1955, Johannesburg
Education: High schooling, Swaziland and UK; MA (geology), Cambridge, UK; MSc (mineral exploration), Stanford, US
First Job: Geophysical surveys on the East Rand for Loxton, Hunting
Size of First Pay Packet: R300 a month
Past Positions: Heading Anglovaal Mining and Teal Exploration & Mining to 2008; former Chamber of Mines president, former South African Tourism Board chairperson, former deputy chairperson of Harmony Gold, former director of Bateman Engineering, African Rainbow Minerals, Standard Bank and Telkom
Value of Assets Under Your Control: I sit on company boards with a combined market capitalisation of about R80-billion
Number of People under Your Leadership: Maximum number of employees, 80 000; none now
Management Style: Collegial
Personal Best Achievement: Four great children, eleven great mines
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My parents, wife and children
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Many, on four continents
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Benjamin Franklin
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Derek Keys
Philosophy of Life: Be clear and open in purpose
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Leadership of Anglovaal Mining
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Sale of Anglovaal Mining
Hope for the Future: Survival of humanity for more than 250 years
Favourite Reading: History
Favourite TV Programme: None
Favourite Food/Drink: All the stuff forbidden to a 60-year-old
Favourite Music: Flutes from the Andes
Favourite Sport: Tennis and flyfishing
Hobbies: Walking the mountains, talking to younger people
Car: None
Pets: Dogs
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Arrogant entitled people
Married: To Caroline
Children: Natasha, 26; Rafael, 25; Gabriel, 25; Alex 22
Clubs: Johannesburg Country Club; River Club, Lotos Club (New York)