Full Name: Henk Bester
Position: MD: Transportation, Bigen
Main Activity of the Company: Bigen is a solutions-driven infrastructure development group
Date and Place of Birth: February 6, 1966, Paarl, Western Cape
Education: BEng (civil), University of Stellenbosch
First Job: Assistant engineer, Spoornet
Career History Prior to Current Position: Transnet (Spoornet), R&H Railway Consultants, Hatch Consulting
Size of First Pay Packet: R756 a month
First Job with Present Group: MD
Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated
Number of People under Your Leadership: Not stated
Management Style: Assertive, participative
Personal Best Achievement: I am very competitive and constantly set new personal goals. I have achieved so many of my goals over the years
Professional Best Achievement: Being widely recognised as a rail expert
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My parent
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Various people in the organisations I previously worked for
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Roger Federer
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Hatch Consulting CEO John Bianchini; he has impressed me with his personal involvement in the company
Philosophy of Life: Hard work is rewarded
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Becoming global director of a multinational company exposed to global markets
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Not having found personal balance earlier in my life
Hope for the Future: That Africa plays a major role in the global arena in all aspects of the economy and sport
Favourite Reading: Autobiographies – most recent, The Climb, by Chris Froome
Favourite TV Programme: Food channel and Deadliest Catch
Favourite Food/Drink: I like most food, including sushi, steak and pasta
Favourite Music: 1980s
Favourite Sport: Cycling
Favourite Website: Google
Hobbies: Mountain biking and deep-sea fishing
Car: Audi RS Q3
Pets: None
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Big 4 X 4s driving on the yellow lane – they are always the same make!
Favourite Other South African Company: Companies like Kumba Iron Ore and Assmang, which I worked with for many years
Favourite Foreign Company: Samsung
Married: To Stacy, since May 8, 1998
Children: None
Clubs: Cycling