Full Name: Alten Hulme

Position: Chief sales and marketing officer, Konica Minolta South Africa

Main Activity of the Company: Office automation and business solutions

Date and Place of Birth: February 22, 1959, Cape Town

Education: Matric, Paul Roos Gymnasium, Stellenbosch; several uncompleted courses at university, ranging from drama, law and BCom (marketing)

First Job: Mud watcher at an international oil rig – it was my worst job!

Career History Prior to Current Position: I worked at an oil rig for one year, after which I served in the South African Police Service for three years. I then became an ice cream shop owner for two years, and this was followed by stints in sales at Die Burger newspaper and advertising manager at Minolta South Africa; I was also in sales and branch manager positions throughout Southern Africa

Size of First Pay Packet: R500 a month

First Job with Present Group: Advertising manager

Value of Assets under Your Control: R300-million, as well as sales of about R1-billion and an extensive marketing budget

Number of People under Your Leadership: Head office sales and marketing team of 12 200 from our own operations and 50 dealers. And, of course, wife Debbie at home!

Management Style: Empower each staff member to use his or her own creativity and personal work style

Personal Best Achievement: Heading up several charity organisations and clubs. I also survived parenting three sons through puberty

Professional Best Achievement: Winning the Bidvest Chairman’s Award

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: Raimund Pouliart (ex McAdams), my mother and my father, the late retired General Nollie Hulme

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Lindsay Ralphs and Brian Joffe (Bidvest)

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Richard Branson

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Anton Rupert

Philosophy of Life: Do what you do, do it well and get the creative juices flowing

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Getting a job offer at Minolta South Africa in 1986

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Dismissals of the staff that I trusted

Hope for the Future: A country and world with a strong economy that is free of corruption

Favourite Reading: Anything about Everest, armchair travel, musicians’ biographies, Jeffrey Archer and any Nataniël book

Favourite TV Programme: Midsomer Murders, MasterChef Australia and House Hunters International

Favourite Food/Drink: Braai with a good Sauvignon Blanc in the company of good friends and with music playing

Favourite Music: Any music, depending on my mood, but David Bowie, Frank Zappa and 60s and 70s music are clear favourites

Favourite Sport: Golf – also rugby, cricket and anything Arsenal. I will also force myself to watch ladies' Beach Volleyball!

Favourite Website: Google and TripAdvisor

Hobbies: Reading, braaiing and sampling good wines – and not in that order!

Car: Jaguar XF 2.4D

Pets: Hundreds of wild birds from the nearby botanical gardens that feed at our two bird feeders

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Dishonesty, false people, selfish drivers

Favourite Other South African Company: Bidvest, of course!

Favourite Foreign Company: Google

Married: To Debbie, since February 23, 1985

Children: Samuel, 31; André, 27; Devon, 25

Clubs: Stellenbosch Club, Stellenbosch Golf Club and Nomads Golf Club of South Africa