Full Name: Franz Gmeiner

Position and Company Name: CEO of Orion Real Estate Ltd

Main Activity of the Company: Property investment and facilities management

Date and Place of Birth: March 10, 1958, Austria

Education: BCom (Hons), CA(SA), University of Johannesburg (formerly Rand Afrikaans University)

First Job: Trainee accountant at Meyer Wilson & Marsh Chartered Accountants, in 1979

Size of First Pay Packet: R295 a month

Career Path To Date: Trainee accountant, 1979 to 1983; business analyst at Sentrachem, 1983 to 1985; senior partner at Cohen & Gmeiner Chartered Accountants, 1985 to 1998; CEO and shareholder of Ezesa Property Holdings, 1991 to 1996; CEO and controlling shareholder of Orion Real Estate, 1997 to present

Value of Assets under Your Control: R1-billion (Orion Real Estate and Gmeiner Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd)

Number of People under Your Leadership: 400

Management Style: Participative, with strict discipline

Personal Best Achievement: Academic colours in high school, academic colours at university and being among the top 10 in the board exams in 1983

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

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Aaron Cohen (late partner in

an audit practice)

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: The President of the US

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Warren Buffett, Elon Musk

Philosophy of Life: The power of the will is the single biggest attribute separating us from other creatures; and the law of attraction linked to the law of abundance, finally wrapped up with generosity and generosity of spirit

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Acquiring a 25% stake in a small auditing firm for R1, and buying the Promenade Centre in 2005 for R34 million; it is now worth R300-million

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Losing the Elma Park development

Hope for the Future: I have great hope because we are entering a new era of responsibility and growth

Favourite Reading: Biographies, recipes and history books

Favourite TV Programme: Drama series like Billions, Masterchef Australia, and Super Rugby (Springbok games)

Favourite Food/Drink: Pork neck roast with grilled vegetables, and a good gnocchi, as well as a good

whiskey, red wine, and good-quality MCC sparkling wine

Favourite Music: 70s & 80s classics and also classical music

Favourite Sport: Rugby

Hobbies: Building (rehabilitating derelict structures), cooking

Car: Bentley, Rolls-Royce

Pets: A dapple Dachshund, two Yorkies, two Biever Terriers, and two township and puppy mill rescues

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Sanctimonious/false people and poor service delivery

Married: To Dr Antoinette Gmeiner

Children: Nadia, 30; Ingrid, 29; Franz Joseph, 26

Clubs: Johannesburg Country Club