Full Name: Erik Roos

Position: CEO of Pharma Dynamics

Main Activity of the Company: Pharma Dynamics is a generic pharmaceuticals company

Date and Place of Birth: April 14, 1969, Klerksdorp, North West province

Education: Honours degree in sports science, business, management, marketing and related support services

First Job: Pharmaceuticals sales representative

Career History Prior to Current Position: MD of Mylan and divisional head of GSK/Aspen

Size of First Pay Packet: R12 000 a month as a pharmaceuticals sales representative in 1994

First Job with Present Group: CEO

Value of Assets under Your Control: Yearly revenue of about R1.5-billion

Number of People under Your Leadership: 167

Management Style: An open, consultative management style that rests on a mentorship relationship

Personal Best Achievement: I pride myself on maintaining a healthy work-life balance by spending quality time with family

Professional Best Achievement: Steering Pharma Dynamics past the magic R1-billion turnover mark by achieving a 15% yearly growth rate

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: Dr Christo Botha – he acted as my life coach and mentor and had a significant impact on my way of thinking and my overall life philosophy

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Industrial psychologist and career coach Heidi Carter, who is cofounder of the Centre for Conscious Leadership, which taught me to facilitate a culture of mindful awareness that maximises the potential of each individual in order to inspire confidence, growth and high performance

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Johan Rupert

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Aspen founder and Global CEO Stephen Saad

Philosophy of Life: “Everybody is a genius, but, if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid” – Albert Einstein

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Being appointed Pharma Dynamics CEO in October 2015

Biggest Ever Disappointment: There have been many minor setbacks in my professional life, but I cannot say I am disappointed about anything in particular

Favourite Reading: It’s Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy, by Captain D Michael Abrashoff

Favourite TV Programme: The television series Billions, which was created by Brian Koppelman, David Levien and Andrew Ross Sorkin

Favourite Food/Drink: Nothing beats a good bottle of red wine with good-quality steak

Favourite Music: Reggae, folk and alternative rock

Favourite Sport: Rugby (watching)

Hobbies: Golf

Car: Audi

Pets: Two Great Danes

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Bureaucracy and emotional decision-making

Favourite Other South African Company: Investec – I like the company’s bold marketing strategy and out-of-the-box thinking

Favourite Foreign Company: Tesla – for its innovative nature

Married: To Vanessa Roos, since 1997

Children: I have two sons aged 18 and 6 and a 15-year-old daughter

Clubs: Not stated