Full Name: Ian Maclean

Position: MD of Parsons Brinckerhoff

Main Activity of the Company: Engineering consultancy

Date and Place of Birth: 1959, Northern Ireland

Education: BEng (Hons), BSc (Hons), MBA

First Job: Graduate trainee at GEC Turbine Generators

Career History Prior to Current Position: Senior management positions at Balfour Beatty

Size of First Pay Packet: R60 000 a year

First Job with Present Group: MD of Cruickshanks (substation engineers)

Value of Assets under Your Control: Turnover of R1-billion

Number of People under Your Leadership: 400

Management Style: Consultative, with a dictatorial tendency

Personal Best Achievement: Recently completing a distance learning degree course in international studies

Professional Best Achievement: Growing an overhead line and cabling business to a turnover of R3-billion

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: Isaac Newton

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Alexander Issigonis

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: George Best, in a bar

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Arnold Weinstock

Philosophy of Life: What is meant to be is meant to be

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Seeing Ireland beat Australia in last year’s Rugby World Cup at Eden Park

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Watching Ronan O’Gara lose the second Test for the Lions at Loftus Versveld

Hope for the Future: Infrastructure improvements that will create a better Africa for all

Favourite Reading: Winning, by Clive Woodward

Favourite TV Programme: Top Gear

Favourite Food/Drink: Beer and curry – in that order

Favourite Music: Snow Patrol

Favourite Sport: Might just be rugby

Favourite Website: Google

Hobbies: Skiing, golf and going to the gym

Car: Audi

Pets: None

Miscellaneous Dislikes: People who speak on their mobile phones while driving

Favourite Other South African Company: Eskom

Favourite Foreign Company: Balfour Beatty

Married: Yes

Children: Three daughters

Clubs: Leicester Tigers and Kilworth Springs Golf Club