Full Name: Klaus Plenge

Position and Company Name: MD of Tetra Pak® Southern Africa

Main Activity of the Company: Tetra Pak® is a food processing and packaging solutions company

Date and Place of Birth: November 8, 1978, Lima, Peru

Schools and Tertiary Education: Primary and secondary education, Alexander von Humboldt German School in Lima, Peru; Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Universidad de Lima; MBA, Purdue University, US; executive programme in high-potential leadership, Harvard Business School, US

First Job: Intern at Plenge Lab, my family’s business in Peru

Size of First Pay Packet: It was modest, but allowed me to buy my first wetsuit

Career Path to Date: I gained diverse experience through several internships across various sectors. For nearly 20 years, I have been with Tetra Pak®, where I’ve grown from an intern position to a leadership role, gaining extensive international experience in the packaging and processing industry

Value of Assets under Your Control: Our assets in South Africa include two offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town and a factory in Pinetown, Kwa-Zulu Natal

Number of People under Your Leadership: 236 employees in Southern Africa

Management Style: I prioritise building strong customer relationships and driving transformational change within the organisation. My approach includes motivational and participative leadership, fostering collaboration among team members. I employ strategic and adaptive leadership to navigate complex challenges, while encouraging a culture of innovation and continuous improvement

Personal Best Achievement: Successfully building and maintaining a life with my family, despite frequent relocations. Moving from Peru to Mexico and then to South Africa over the past six years has been challenging, but with the unwavering support of my family, I’ve been able to adapt and thrive in new environments

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My father, who was a hardworking yet balanced individual who remained humble and always sought to improve and innovate

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: A handful of leaders

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Elon Musk – his innovative thinking and vision for the future, particularly in space and technology, are incredibly inspiring

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Warren Buffett, whose expertise in analysing businesses and disciplined investment strategies have earned him widespread respect and admiration

Philosophy of Life: My philosophy of life is akin to the ocean – characterised by fluctuating tides and varying conditions. Life can be competitive and unpredictable, and one must be vigilant and adaptable to navigate these changes effectively

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Working abroad and simultaneously pursuing an international MBA in the US were significant opportunities that fulfilled long-held aspirations. Experiencing different cultures, languages and ways of thinking has broadened my perspective and enriched my professional and personal life

Biggest Ever Disappointment: There isn’t one specific disappointment that comes to mind

Hope for the Future: That I continue to lead the sustainability transformation within our industry in Southern Africa and build upon our corporate social investments at Tetra Pak®, including our school feeding programme, and achieve our sustainability goals

Favourite Reading: A variety of topics, including sports, geopolitics and business. I am particularly interested in the latest technological advances and how they shape our world

Favourite TV Programme: Seal Team is a favourite of mine due to its focus on leadership and the intricate planning and training involved in Navy SEAL missions

Favourite Food/Drink: Seafood/a good glass of wine

Favourite Music: My music tastes vary, depending on my mood. When I’m boxing, I enjoy listening to Amapiano, which energises and motivates me

Favourite Sport: I am passionate about surfing. I enjoy any water-related activities and find them invigorating

Hobbies: Playing soccer, tennis, kickboxing and boxing

Car: I am drawn to bakkies, with the VW Amarok and Toyota Hilux being models I particularly like

Pets: A dog and a cat

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Lack of punctuality

Married: Yes

Children: Yes