Full Name: Dirk Sjoerd Dijkstra

Position: GM and head of subregion: Southern Africa at Hilti South Africa

Main Activity of the Company: Power tools, fastening solutions, construction software and services

Date and Place of Birth: November 13, 1967, the Netherlands

Education: Bachelor of Business Administration, Nyenrode University, the Netherlands, 1991; MBA, University of Oregon, US, 1994

First Job: Management trainee at Van Leeuwen Pipe & Tube, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands

Career History Prior to Current Position: Management trainee, Van Leeuwen Pipe & Tube, the Netherlands, 1995; commercial manager, Van Leeuwen Pipe & Tube, the Netherlands, 1996 to1997; GM, Van Leeuwen Thailand, 1998 to 2002; GM: North-east, ThyssenKrupp AIN Plastics, US, 2002 to 2005; division manager: industry business, Hilti North America, US, 2006 to 2007; GM, Hilti South Africa, 2008 to 2012; GM and head of subregion: Southern Africa, Hilti South Africa, since 2013

Size of First Pay Packet: 48 000 Dutch guilders (equivalent to about €22 000)

First Job with Present Group: Division manager at Hilti in the US

Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated

Number of People under Your Leadership: About 260

Management Style: Coaching and supporting, but can be directive, where necessary. In the final analysis, there should not be one style – leadership is situational

Personal Best Achievement: Adopting our two girls in 2002

Professional Best Achievement: Turning Hilti South Africa around

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My sister – she is an amazing woman who has survived cancer four times and is always positive

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Mike Visser, my mentor at Van Leeuwen. He gave me my first career chances – you need a person that throws you in the deep end and stays with you

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Johan Cruijff – but it is too late

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Sergio Marchionne

Philosophy of Life: People are good, and impossible is nothing

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Adopting our twin girls

Biggest Ever Disappointment: The Netherlands losing the final at the 2010 FIFA World Cup

Hope for the Future: A South Africa that captures its immense opportunities

Favourite Reading: Jack Reacher books, by Lee Child

Favourite TV Programme: Peaky Blinders, sports

Favourite Food/Drink: Thai food

Favourite Music: 70s and 80s

Favourite Sport: Soccer (watching), squash (playing)

Favourite Website: nos.nl, a Dutch news site

Hobbies: Food, squash, golf

Car: VW Touareg

Pets: Goldfish

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Long-winded people, packing for travel

Favourite Other South African Company: Woolworths

Favourite Foreign Company: Emirates – I use the airline a lot, and it takes good care of its passengers

Married: To Mireille Vogelsang, since September 20, 1996

Children: Twins Juliet and Jasmine, 16

Clubs: PSV Eindhoven, Liverpool, New England Patriots, Oregon Ducks