Full Name: Warren Wentworth Dale
Position: MD, African Mixing Technologies, t/a Afromix
Main Activity of Company: Design and manufacture of high-technology agitation systems and peristaltic pumps
Date and Place of Birth: Johannesburg, October, 10, 1946
Education: Matric, Pretoria Boys High; engineering diploma, 1966
First Job: Asea Electric, Pretoria, engineering student
Career History Prior to Current Position: Asea Electric, to 1967; Drury Wickman, sales engineer, to 1970; present company, in various roles, from 1975 to the present – became MD in 1978
Size of First Pay Packet: R21 a month
First Job with Present Proup: Sales engineer
Value of Assets under Your Control: R95-million
Number of People under Your Leadership: 20
Management Style: Lead from within the team; ethics are everything
Personal Best Achievement: Obtaining a helicopter pilot’s licence at 59
Professional Best Achievement: Building up a business from scratch and successfully selling it in 2001
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother – she taught me that the world is only as small as you choose it to be – although she never knew she did
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: No one springs to mind
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Warren Buffett
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Clem Sunter
Philosophy of Life: Never look back over your shoulder; seize every opportunity; regret only the things you haven’t done
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Taking over a bankrupt company in 1975 and turning it into a market leader
Biggest Ever Disappointment: The way the business I sold turned out, although it gave me the opportunity to create a new one
Hope for the Future: That our political leaders recognise the damage they have done to this beautiful country, reverse it, and try to retain our skilled people
Favourite Reading: Nonfiction, or any novel by James Lee Burke
Favourite TV Programme: 3rd Degree and Special Assignment
Favourite Food/Drink: Peking duck/a good Sauvignon Blanc
Favourite Music: Andre Rieu
Favourite Sport: Rugby
Favourite Website: None
Hobbies: Flying helicopters and spending time at my game farm
Car: Mercedes-Benz 500CL
Pets: A staffie and a renegade dog called Gibson
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Pompous people who take themselves too seriously, unreliable people
Favourite Other South African Company: Gold Fields
Favourite Foreign Company: Robinson Helicopters
Married: Adrienne Barnes, September, 26, 1999
Children: Gregory, 33; Michelle, 31
Clubs: Johannesburg Country Club