Full Name: Dirk Sjoerd Dijkstra
Position: GM and head of subregion: Southern Africa at Hilti South Africa
Main Activity of the Company: Power tools, fastening solutions, construction software and services
Date and Place of Birth: November 13, 1967, the Netherlands
Education: Bachelor of Business Administration, Nyenrode University, the Netherlands, 1991; MBA, University of Oregon, US, 1994
First Job: Management trainee at Van Leeuwen Pipe & Tube, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Career History Prior to Current Position: Management trainee, Van Leeuwen Pipe & Tube, the Netherlands, 1995; commercial manager, Van Leeuwen Pipe & Tube, the Netherlands, 1996 to1997; GM, Van Leeuwen Thailand, 1998 to 2002; GM: North-east, ThyssenKrupp AIN Plastics, US, 2002 to 2005; division manager: industry business, Hilti North America, US, 2006 to 2007; GM, Hilti South Africa, 2008 to 2012; GM and head of subregion: Southern Africa, Hilti South Africa, since 2013
Size of First Pay Packet: 48 000 Dutch guilders (equivalent to about €22 000)
First Job with Present Group: Division manager at Hilti in the US
Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated
Number of People under Your Leadership: About 260
Management Style: Coaching and supporting, but can be directive, where necessary. In the final analysis, there should not be one style – leadership is situational
Personal Best Achievement: Adopting our two girls in 2002
Professional Best Achievement: Turning Hilti South Africa around
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My sister – she is an amazing woman who has survived cancer four times and is always positive
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Mike Visser, my mentor at Van Leeuwen. He gave me my first career chances – you need a person that throws you in the deep end and stays with you
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Johan Cruijff – but it is too late
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Sergio Marchionne
Philosophy of Life: People are good, and impossible is nothing
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Adopting our twin girls
Biggest Ever Disappointment: The Netherlands losing the final at the 2010 FIFA World Cup
Hope for the Future: A South Africa that captures its immense opportunities
Favourite Reading: Jack Reacher books, by Lee Child
Favourite TV Programme: Peaky Blinders, sports
Favourite Food/Drink: Thai food
Favourite Music: 70s and 80s
Favourite Sport: Soccer (watching), squash (playing)
Favourite Website: nos.nl, a Dutch news site
Hobbies: Food, squash, golf
Car: VW Touareg
Pets: Goldfish
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Long-winded people, packing for travel
Favourite Other South African Company: Woolworths
Favourite Foreign Company: Emirates – I use the airline a lot, and it takes good care of its passengers
Married: To Mireille Vogelsang, since September 20, 1996
Children: Twins Juliet and Jasmine, 16
Clubs: PSV Eindhoven, Liverpool, New England Patriots, Oregon Ducks 