Full Name: Richard Kuhlmann

Position: MD of Upat South Africa (SA)

Main Activity of the Company: Upat SA, a 100% South African-owned business, began trading in 1983 as the sole Southern African distributor of the Upat range of construction fasteners, including anchor bolts, chemical anchors and nylon plugs, besides others

Date and Place of Birth: November 25, 1952, Lyttelton, Pretoria

Education: BCom, University of South Africa

First Job: Trainee manager at OK Bazaars

Career History Prior to Current Position: Afrox

Size of First Pay Packet: R196

First Job with Present Group: From sales and orders to packing

Value of Assets under Your Control: Undisclosed

Number of People under Your Leadership: 150

Management Style: Open-door, hands-on

Personal Best Achievement: Being married successfully for many years, and raising two wonderful children, who have both worked happily at Upat

Professional Best Achievement: Building three companies with an amazing team

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

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: An Afrox director

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Warren Buffett

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Warren Buffett

Philosophy of Life: If it is worth doing, do it properly

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Receiving R10 000 from my parents with which to start the business

Biggest Ever Disappointment: That I never did pilot training

Hope for the Future: Some stability in South Africa so that our country grows

Favourite Reading: Time magazine, the news

Favourite TV Programme: BBC 1 News

Favourite Food/Drink: A reasonable red wine, and many different cuisines – from Italian to German – and a good steak on the braai

Favourite Music: The golden oldies

Favourite Sport: Tennis

Favourite Website: Google

Hobbies: Woodwork, using Fischer products, being in the bush, and tennis

Car: Audi A5

Pets: German shepherds and a wire-haired terrier

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Blatant lying, heavy traffic and rhino poachers

Favourite Other South African Company: Undisclosed

Favourite Foreign Company: Fischer Germany

Married: To Julia Ann, since February 3, 1979

Children: Alison Julia, 38; Adrian Keith, 36

Clubs: None