Full Name: Neville Francis Nicolau

Position: CEO of Anglo Platinum. When I travel, I fill in my occupation as ‘Unaccompanied miner’

Main Activity of the Company: Finding, mining, processing and marketing platinum-group metals

Date and Place of Birth: July 31, 1959, Bloemfontein, but I grew up near Pretoria, hence my support of the Blue Bulls

Education: BTech (mining engineering); MBA, University of Cape Town

First Job: Learner official: mining at Anglo American Corporation, 1979. Actually, it was as a teller at OK Bazaars while I was still at school

Size of First Pay Packet: R340 (actually, about R5 a day at OK Bazaars)

Value of Company Assets: Market capitalisation is about R200-billion, the value of the resource is too great to measure, and the value of the people is infinite

Number of People under Your Leadership: Eight executives directly and the 60 000-member Anglo Platinum span

Management Style: Set the vision, align the organisation and allow people space to perform

Personal Best Achievement: The GSB, Johannesburg Chapter Award for Commitment and Dedication achieved in my MBA year and my Sunrise Club tie

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Bobby Godsell

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Leonardo da Vinci

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Harry Oppenheimer

Philosophy of Life: Live and let live

Biggest Ever Opportunity: I have been blessed with many, but an important early career opportunity was my appointment as a mine captain

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Mine fatalities

Hope for the Future: That things get better all the time and that we have fun

Favourite Reading: Alternately, adventure novels and rereading a classic or important book

Favourite TV Programme: Sports channels

Favourite Food/Drink: Braais, biker breakfasts/whiskey and too much red wine

Favourite Music: Modern rock

Favourite Sport: Rugby, cricket and football

Hobbies: Motorcycling, fly fishing, motor boating, genealogy, painting, do-it-yourself

Car: Ford Anglia 105E – it has been in my family since it was new in 1963

Pets: Two dogs and a cockatiel

Dislikes: Petty disobedience, like not stopping at stop streets, driving through red robots, littering, and so on (and I am not only talking about the taxis)

Married: To Helen van Wyk, July 2, 1983

Children: Stephen, 24; Andrew, 21

Clubs: Central BMW Club, HOG Johannesburg Chapter, Ducati Owners Club, Sandy Lane Golf Club, St James Boating Club, Country Club Johannesburg

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