Full Name: Carlos Poñe

Position: CEO: Africa, AECOM

Main Activity of the Company: AECOM is a fully integrated infrastructure and support services company

Date and Place of Birth: February 28, 1955, Maputo, Mozambique

Education: Mechanical engineering, Maputo; BSc (Hons) (operations management), Hertfordshire; advanced diploma in production management; postgraduate diploma in manufacturing strategy

First Job: Teacher

Career History Prior to Current Position: MD of a major Mozambican mechanical construction company, 1982; production manager of a South African pump manufacturer, 1985; VP and CEO of ABB sub-Saharan Africa, from 1993; CEO at ABB UAE; executive director of AECOM UAE; CE: Africa, AECOM (since October 2015)

Size of First Pay Packet: R250 a month (in 1974)

First Job with Present Group: Executive director of AECOM UAE

Value of Assets under Your Control: We sell expertise

Number of People under Your Leadership: 1 200

Management Style: Open-door; transparent; teamwork; accountability; lead, not micromanage

Personal Best Achievement: I look to the future rather than the past, as I believe there are even more amazing achievements to come

Professional Best Achievement: Every promotion and new job I have had. I do not measure achievement by business volume, but by challenges overcome

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My wife

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: No single person

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Charlie Chaplin, Nelson Mandela and Malala Yousafzai

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Percy Barnevik

Philosophy of Life: Put family first, walk the talk

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Becoming MD of the biggest metal construction company in Mozambique at 27, in charge of 726 people

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Not yet

Hope for the Future: Peace in the world

Favourite Reading: I am addicted to general and business news, including sports (Spanish and Portuguese)

Favourite TV Programme: Soccer and Formula 1

Favourite Food/Drink: Mozambican prawns or Mozambican peri-peri chicken/a glass of good white wine (definitely Portuguese), a glass of good red wine (definitely from South Africa)

Favourite Music: A good mix, some Portuguese music

Favourite Sport: Soccer

Favourite Website: News 24, Bloomberg

Hobbies: Not stated

Car: BMW X5M

Pets: Three dogs (German Shepherd, Boxer, Miniature Dachshund) and a wild cat

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Dishonest and untrustworthy people, corporate politicians

Favourite Foreign Company: General Electric

Married: To Graça

Children: Two sons aged 34 and 30, two grandchildren

Clubs: Zimbali Country Club