Name: Eric Wisse

Position: Acting CEO, Concor

Main Activity of the Company: Construction

Date and Place of Birth: January 30, 1968, the Netherlands

Education: BEng (civil engineering), Stellenbosch University; MEng (engineering management), University of Pretoria

First Job: Site engineer

Career History Prior to Current Position: I was a bursar of Savage & Lovemore (East Cape), which later became part of Group Five. After graduating, I started my career in 1992 as site engineer on the Taung dam and have been involved in various construction projects across South Africa and the Southern African Development Community region

Size of First Pay Packet: R2 700 a month

First Job with Present Group: Contracts director

Value of Assets under Your Control: About R1.6-billion

Number of People under Your Leadership: Concor employs about 3 000 people

Management Style: Participative – I am part of a team

Personal Best Achievement: Being happily married for 25 years and raising two children

Professional Best Achievement: Leading Concor in the current difficult construction environment

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My parents – they taught me that nothing in life can be taken for granted and that everything must be earned

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Frik Venter, previous MD of Group Five and Concor

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Bono, of U2

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Richard Branson

Philosophy of Life: Work hard, play hard

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Starting my construction career

Biggest Ever Disappointment: I have forgotten

Hope for the Future: That South Africa becomes a thriving economy that eradicates unemployment

Favourite Reading: Sports biographies

Favourite TV Programme: SEAL Team

Favourite Food/Drink: Lamb chops/beer

Favourite Music: U2

Favourite Sport: Mountain biking

Favourite Website: Not stated

Hobbies: Mountain biking, adventure motor biking

Car: Land Rover Discovery

Pets: Two dogs and a cat

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Laziness and lateness

Favourite Other South African Company: South African Breweries

Favourite Foreign Company: Virgin

Married: To Soria, since 1994

Children: Elzaan, 17; Heinrich, 16

Clubs: Fourteen of them – they are gathering dust