Full Name: Herman van Staden

Position: CEO of Concord Cranes

Main Activity of the Company: Mobile crane hire, rigging, transport and associated services

Date and Place of Birth: January 19, 1968, Springs, Gauteng

Education: BEng (mechanical), University of Johannesburg (UJ), 1990; MEng (mechanical) UJ, 1992

First Job: Junior engineer

Career History Prior to Current Position: Group Five Projects, three years; Bateman Materials Handling, 18 months; Atlantic Crane Hire, three years; Anglo Crane Hire, eight years; Anglo-V3 Crane Hire

Size of First Pay Packet: R3 400 a month
First Job with Present Group: Director

Value of Assets under Your Control: About R600-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: 315

Management Style: Hands-on, coupled with an open-door policy

Personal Best Achievement: Being able to long-jump over 7.2 m at the age of 16

Professional Best Achievement: My current position

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My wife, Daleen

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My father and my wife

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Usain Bolt

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Elon Musk

Philosophy of Life: Try to surround yourself with positive and ambitious people

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Too soon to say

Biggest Ever Disappointment: A torn calf muscle prevented me from attending the South African Athletics Championships when I was in matric, effectively ending any possible athletics career

Hope for the Future: A government we can really trust and God-fearing leaders who can reignite the full economic potential of South Africa

Favourite Reading: Business Day

Favourite TV Programme: Sports programmes and Jason Statham movies

Favourite Food/Drink: Medium fillet steak with pepper sauce/ a good whiskey or red wine

Favourite Music: Various 1980s music

Favourite Sport: Golf, rugby, athletics and cricket

Favourite Website: Concord Cranes Hobbies: Playing golf and working out in the gym

Car: Audi SQ5

Pets: Two Yorkies

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Dishonesty and people with a ‘tomorrow is another day’ attitude

Favourite Other South African Company: Naspers

Favourite Foreign Company: Tesla

Married: To Daleen, since January 29, 1994

Children: Tasha (daughter), 18; HJ (son), 15

Clubs: Zimbali Country Club, Virgin Active