Full Name: Richard Plazier

Position: MD of GEA Separator South Africa

Main Activity of the Company: Selling and servicing the GEA group’s products in sub-Saharan Africa

Date and Place of Birth: March 14, 1967, Delft, Netherlands

Education: I hold chemical laboratory technician and chemical engineering qualifications

First Job: Newspaper vendor – when I was 15

Career History Prior to Current Position: After working as a project coordinator and as an engineer, as well as in sales, I became sales director and then MD

Size of First Pay Packet: R400 a month (when I was a newspaper vendor) and R6 000 a month when I started at GEA

First Job with Present Group: Project coordinator

Value of Assets under Your Control: Could be more

Number of People under Your Leadership: 25

Management Style: Management by objectives and by example

Personal Best Achievement: Being named the best young entrepreneur in the GEA group in 2005

Professional Best Achievement: Pending

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My father, my mother and my wife

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My opponents

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Angelina Jolie

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Apple CEO Steve Jobs

Philosophy of Life: Don’t worry – be happy

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Relocating to South Africa

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Not stated

Hope for the Future: That a lot of good happens to all the people of this beautiful country, which has a lot of potential

Favourite Reading: John Grisham

Favourite TV Programme: Beste Van Nederland

Favourite Food/Drink: Sushi, chocolate/red wine

Favourite Music: Armin van Buuren

Favourite Sport: Snowboarding

Favourite Website: www.TED.com

Hobbies: Spending time with my family

Car: VW Tiguan

Pets: A rabbit called Wonder

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Lying

Favourite Other South African Company: Sasol

Favourite Foreign Company: Royal Dutch Shell

Married: To Margareth

Children: Luuk, 17; Lara, 10; and Fleur, 10

Clubs: None