Full Name: Christopher Paterson

Position and Company Name: MD of Associated Energy Services (AES)

Main Activity of the Company: AES is involved in the operation and management of industrial energy assets, with a focus on steam-generating assets

Date and Place of Birth: 1985, Kimberley, Northern Cape

Schools and Tertiary Education: Matric, Kearsney College; BSc (Chemical Engineering), University of Cape Town

First Job: Process engineer in training at Sasol Secunda, in Mpumalanga

Size of First Pay Packet: R15 000 a month

Career Path to Date: After graduating from university, I joined Sasol Synfuels in Secunda as an engineer in training in the refinery environment. I left Sasol Synfuels as a senior process engineer and joined AES in 2014 as the KwaZulu-Natal regional manager. I took up the role of AES MD in 2018

Value of Assets under Your Control: This is a State secret!

Number of People under Your Leadership: AES currently has more than 310 employees

Management Style: My approach varies, depending on the situation and the team. Sometimes you need to be leading from the front and other times it is better to give your team room to flourish, to let people make decisions and learn from their mistakes

Personal Best Achievement: Getting my wife to agree to marry me, followed by spearfishing a 25 kg Giant Trevally

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

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Two People: Steven Squires, a farmer who taught me to think and manage risk and how to cook a decent meal, and Kobus van Niekerk, a giant of man with a heart of gold and a wealth of practical engineering knowledge

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Canadian psychologist, academic and author Jordan Peterson

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who lived from 1835 to 1919 – his story is truly inspirational

Philosophy of Life: Conduct your life in a way that allows you to sleep well at night

Biggest Ever Opportunity: My education – thanks to my parents

Biggest Ever Disappointment: The reduction in local manufacturing and the increase in the importation of finished goods

Hope For the Future: Business, political and legal environments in South Africa that allow for economic growth and job creation

Favourite Reading: Nonfictional war stories

Favourite TV Programme: I really enjoyed the Turning Point documentaries on Netflix

Favourite Food/Drink: Pasteis de Nata from Hog House Ndabeni, with a flat white – my colleagues will probably have the same answer

Favourite Music: I love music and it is too hard to select one particular artist or band

Favourite Sport: Rugby and football

Hobbies: Fishing and hiking

Car: A Subaru XV

Pets: Three dogs and a cat

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Corruption, lukewarm cappuccinos and a thick-based pizza

Married: To Sarah

Children: Two

Clubs: None