Full Name: Ivan Arthur James Clark

Position: MD of Grindrod Limited since July 1999

Main activity of the company: Shipping and freight logistics

Date and place of birth: December 8, 1943, Durban

Education: Matriculated from Glenwood High School in 1961, and qualified as chartered accountant in 1969 at the University of Natal

First job: Partner in Wadley, Wood & Bonella

Size of first pay packet: R32,50 a month

First job with present group: Financial manager – joined in May 1977

Value of assets under your control: R2-billion

Number of people under your leadership: 2 150

Management style: Open, direct, no bureaucracy, to the point, do not look for control of businesses but rather partnerships

Personal best achievement: Coming tenth in the Washie, a 100-mile road race between Port Alfred and East London, and getting my green number in Comrades, including seven silver medals

Professional best achievement: Chartered accountant’s degree; being made an honorary fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers for my service to the shipping industry and being their first South African president; British Airways/Natal Mercury Kwazulu-Natal Businessman of the Year for business excellence in 1995

Person who has had the biggest influence on your life: Myself – I am a self motivator, finding my own direction

Person who has had the biggest influence on your career: Myself

Person you would most like to meet: Nelson Mandela

Business person who has impressed you most: Murray Grindrod, our chairperson

Philosophy of life: Life is what you make of it and if you don’t make it – that’s life – enjoy, enjoy, enjoy. Always look for the funny side of whatever you are doing, while not being irresponsible

Biggest ever opportunity: Being able to buy 9% of Grindrod Limited several years ago, knowing that we could turn the company into a winner

Biggest ever disappointment: Nothing much

Hope for the future: Much happiness and providing my three children with a wonderful platform of education, upbringing and wealth into their future

Favourite reading: Books on health and business

Favourite TV programme: Sport, sport, sport

Favourite food and drink: Pizza and white wine

Favourite music: Andrew Lloyd Webber

Favourite sport: Cricket and rugby

Car: Mercedes-Benz SL500

Pets: Dogs

Miscellaneous dislikes: People who talk around the point and don’t get on with realising that life is real

Favourite other South African company: All our customers

Favourite foreign company: All our overseas associates and customers

Married: Jeanne (n