Full Name: Dylan Chicken

Position: Director of Shantui Equipment Southern Africa, Shantui West Africa and Avic-Shantui Construction Machinery East Africa, as well as vice-GM of Shandong Shantui Construction Machinery Import & Export Co, of China

Main Activity of the Company: Import and distribution of construction and mining machinery, and the provision of after-sales services and support through a local distributor network

Date and Place of Birth: February 5, 1974, Johannesburg

Education: National diploma in mechanical engineering

First Job: Cost controller on a Basil Read construction site

Career History Prior to Current Position: I spent 11 years in the construction industry, working for Basil Read and Grinaker-LTA, and three years as MD of McCarthy Heavy Equipment

Size of First Pay Packet: R6 250 a month

First Job with Present Group: GM of Shantui Equipment Southern Africa

Value of Assets under Your Control: $27-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: 70

Management Style: Democratic, participative and inclusive

Personal Best Achievement: Being happily married for nearly 16 years

Professional Best Achievement: My current work

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: Jesus Christ

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Marius Heyns, CEO of Basil Read

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Nelson Mandela

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Steve Jobs

Philosophy of Life: Go for it! Pioneer. Do something of significance.

Biggest Ever Opportunity: My current role – helping to globalise Shantui

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Closing McCarthy Heavy Equipment in 2010

Hope for the Future: That the National Development Plan comes to fruition in South Africa

Favourite Reading: Business and motivational literature

Favourite TV Programme: Sport

Favourite Food/Drink: A cheese burger and a cold Coke on my way home from China

Favourite Music: U2

Favourite Sport: Running and tennis, watching rugby

Favourite Website: Google – it gets me just what I need

Hobbies: Having quality family time, and the outdoors

Car: Hyundai

Pets: None of my own, but my children have a Basset, birds and fish

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Negativity about South Africa

Favourite Other South African Company: Basil Read – I started there as a bursary student and continue to hope for its ongoing success and growth

Favourite Foreign Company: Apple – this company has changed the world and brought value to so many people

Married: To Jennifer since February 21, 1998

Children: Nicole, 13; Tristan, 10

Clubs: None