Full Name: Vishal Pooran

Position: MD of Egoli Gas

Main Activity of the Company: Reticulation and trading of natural gas through pipeline

Date and Place of Birth: November 26, 1972, in Tongaat, KwaZulu-Natal

Education: BTech (Mechanical Engineering), Durban University of Technology, 1999; postgraduate diploma in management studies, Management College of Southern Africa, 2002; registration as a gas distribution professional, Gas Technology Institute, Chicago, US, 2005; registration as a pipeline integrity management professional, Gas Technology Institute, Chicago, US, 2007; Board Development Programme, Gordon Institute of Business Science, 2012

First Job: Learner design draughtsman at Iscor Newcastle in 1993

Career History Prior to Current Position: I spent 24 years in various roles at Sasol, including 18 years at Sasol Gas Operations (last position was divisional manager: pipeline integrity); senior manager: supply chain, Sasol Group; VP: group real estate, Sasol Group

Size of First Pay Packet: R312 a month

First Job with Present Group: MD

Value of Assets under Your Control: R1.15-billion

Number of People under Your Leadership: 131

Management Style: Collaborative and participative

Personal Best Achievement: Meeting and marrying my wife and the birth of my two children

Professional Best Achievement: The first in-line inspection of the 865 km Mozambique-to-Secunda pipeline in 2008, and being part of the core project team that build the Sasol Place global headquarters, in Sandton

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

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Wrenelle Stander, former CEO of Comair

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: The Dalai Lama

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: In South Africa – Simphiwe Mehlomakulu; internationally – Elon Musk

Philosophy of Life: Do good and be good

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Becoming MD of Egoli Gas

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Anytime that an injury occurred under my watch

Hope for the Future: Creating a better life for South Africans

Favourite Reading: Books by Stephen Hawking, autobiographies (Steve Jobs's is one of my favourites) and books on spiritual awakening

Favourite TV Programme: Dirty Jobs

Favourite Food/Drink: Mutton curry and roti

Favourite Music: Anything from the 80s and Trinidad Chutney music (traditional music)

Favourite Sport: Cricket and Formula One

Favourite Website: None

Hobbies: Music – playing Chutney songs, fixing anything mechanical or electronic, or at least trying to

Car: Lexus and Jaguar

Pets: None

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Anyone who is not true to themselves

Favourite Other South African Company: Naspers

Favourite Foreign Company: Apple – but I also love Tesla

Married: To Menal Singh since April 27, 1996

Children: Aarya, 21; Aadit, 14

Clubs: None