Full Name: Craig John Franck

Position: Sales and operations manager of Ya Batho

Main Activity of the Company: Ya Batho is a mining technology company with a focus on communication and real-time location systems used in underground or opencast mines

Date and Place of Birth: August 26, 1972, Kempton Park

Education: BBA and MBA dgrees

First Job: Paramedic

Career History Prior to Current Position: Executive VP for business development (mining: Africa) at Proudfoot Consulting; regional manager: underground mining (for Southern African Development Community countries) at Immersive Technologies; country manager at Nautitech Mining Solutions; and sales and marketing manager: underground mining (for sub-Saharan Africa) at Strata Worldwide

Size of First Pay Packet: It is not worth remembering

First Job with Present Group: Current position

Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated

Number of People under Your Leadership: Not stated

Management Style: Collaborative management style.

Personal Best Achievement: Completing my academic studies and my daughter

Professional Best Achievement: Always working on a new one; however, for now, being appointed to an international role within 3M and having the opportunity to work out of Dubai for two years and seeing the benefits of an efficient government

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

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Colin Sheen, when I joined 3M – he always held himself to the same standards he expected from his team

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Brian Joffe, the late Sabine Schmitz and Donald Trump

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Hard to decide between Sol Kerzner and Elon Musk

Philosophy of Life: Stop making excuses and start making a difference

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Still waiting patiently

Biggest Ever Disappointment: The passing of my father and then being retrenched for doing my job and challenging the status quo

Hope for the Future: That my daughter achieves more in life than I will, and a higher level of education at tertiary institutions.

Favourite Reading: Business journals and Sports Shooter magazine

Favourite TV Programme: NCIS and Harrow

Favourite Food/Drink: Sushi/Pinotage wine

Favourite Music: Classic rock

Favourite Sport: Golf and DTM

Favourite Website: Harvard Business Review

Hobbies: Competitive IPSC shooting and scuba diving

Car: Volvo XC90

Pets: Two dogs and a cat

Miscellaneous Dislikes: People who protect their jobs instead of doing their jobs

Favourite Other South African Company: Bidvest

Favourite Foreign Company: Tesla

Married: I am in a meaningful long-term relationship with Alzira Clara

Children: Nathalie, 21

Clubs: Vektor Shooting Club