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