Full Name: Michael Grant van Niekerk

Position: CEO of ASP Fire

Main Activity of the Company: Fire prevention through engineering design

Date and Place of Birth: January 17,1967, Waterval Boven

Education: BCom, MBL, Confederation of Fire Protection Associations qualification in principles of fire engineering

First Job: Pilot, South African Air force

Career History Prior to Current Position: Air Force pilot; associate director, Alexander Forbes; regional MD, Saffer: DAWN Group; CE: lounge division, Bravo Manufacturing Group; group production director, Coricraft


Size of First Pay Packet: R250 a month

First Job with Present Group: CEO

Value of Assets under Your Control: R25-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: 25

Management Style: Inclusive and mentoring; soft heart but firm mind

Personal Best Achievement: Summiting Mount Kilimanjaro in 2003

Professional Best Achievement: Starting my own business

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: Brian Spanier-Marson

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Derek Todd

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Jeff Bezos

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Mark Zuckerberg

Philosophy of Life: Do everything to the maximum and never give up

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Starting my own business

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Not starting my own business earlier in my career

Hope for the Future: That the youth of our country reach their potential in every way possible

Favourite Reading: Technical research and science fiction

Favourite TV Programme: English Premier League football

Favourite Food/Drink: Grilled Salmon

Favourite Music: Rock

Favourite Sport: Running

Favourite Website: http://news.sky.com

Hobbies: Reading, running, fixing things

Car: BMW X5

Pets: A dog and a cat (strictly, they are my wife’s pets)

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Mentally and physically lazy people

Favourite Other South African Company: Discovery

Favourite Foreign Company: Google

Married: To Tanya, since February 24, 2007

Children: Calvin, 11

Clubs: National Fire Protection Association, Society of Fire Protection Engineers, Engineering Council of South Africa, South African Institution of Civil Engineering