Full Name: Colin Oliver
Position: MD of MSA, a division of SAMSAC Africa
Main Activity of the Company: Manufacture of safety products
Date and Place of Birth: April 4, 1969, Springs, Gauteng
Education: BEng (electrical engineering), University of Pretoria, 1987 to 1990; diploma in data metrics, University of South Africa (Unisa), 1991 to 1993; MBL, Unisa, 1995 to 1998
First Job: Warehouse stock packer at Metro Trade Centre, Springs, 1986
Career History Prior to Current Position: Operations manager: Southern Africa, Shell Services, December 2003 to January 2005; life cycle management manager: Southern Africa operations, P&H MinePro Services, February 2005 to September 2007; GM: mining, Terex Africa (Southern Africa), August 2007 to April 2010; May 10 to date, SAMSAC Africa
Size of First Pay Packet: R3 800 a month
First Job with Present Group: Sales director
Value of Assets under Your Control: R340-million
Number of People under Your Leadership: 610
Management Style: Democratic and participative
Personal Best Achievement: Successfully completing the seventy-fifth anniversary run of the Comrades Marathon in the year 2000, finishing 30 minutes before the cutoff time, only nine months after having a near-death motorcycle accident
Professional Best Achievement: Successfully building and handing over for operation to Anglo Platinum a 5 000 t, R110-million hydraulic excavator – on time and within budget
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My father, Corrie Oliver
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: I have had various direct key influencers, including Eqstra Holdings CEO Walter Hill; Frank Reid, retired MD of JCB and previously Terex Africa; and Luis Fernando Flores, previous MD of SAMSAC Africa. Indirect influencers include Mark Cutifani, previous CEO of AngloGold Ashanti and current CEO of Anglo American; Warren Buffet; and Tony Robbins, a life coach and motivational speaker
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Warren Buffett and Tony Robbins
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Mark Cutifani
Philosophy of Life: Live life to the fullest and try not to be overly serious
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Lingead, the SAMSAC Africa business in sub-Saharan Africa
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Losing my father to cancer when I was 24 and not being able to show him his granddaughter
Hope for the Future: That all South Africans, irrespective of race, colour, sex or background, continue to live the legacy of Nelson Mandela
Favourite Reading: Documentaries and biographies of World War Two, suspense thriller novels
Favourite TV Programme: Discovery Channel – How it is made
Favourite Food/Drink: A real South African braai, with pap and gravy
Favourite Music: Rock ’n’ roll and certain genres of heavy metal
Favourite Sport: Motorcycle racing and motocross
Favourite Website: Not stated
Hobbies: Model aircraft, electronic design and prototyping
Car: A 2004 Ford double-cab bakkie
Pets: Two cats
Miscellaneous Dislikes: A thief – a person that squanders a shareholder’s investment, or cons a shareholder or investor out of their investment
Favourite Other South African Company: Imperial Group
Favourite Foreign Company: Mine Safety Appliances and Anglo American
Married: To Francina, since March 1992
Children: Nicole, 12
Clubs: Previously, an amateur radio club, a model aircraft flying club and the Christiaan Motorcycle Association. However, these days, I am more focused on my family and attending to our business and shareholders’ interests