Full Name: Kim Alatna Schoepflin
Position: MD of Joest Kwatani
Main Activity of the Company: Joest Kwatani, previously Joest, is a leading original-equipment manufacturer that designs, manufactures and markets custom-designed vibratory equipment solutions in South Africa
Date and Place of Birth: March 18, 1973, Johannesburg
Education: Bachelor of European Business in International Business Management (Hons) (Cum Laude), with dual graduation in Germany and the UK; BCom (Hons), University of the Witwatersrand
First Job: McKinsey, September 1999
Career History Prior to Current Position: The first three-and-a-half years of my career were spent in corporate finance and strategy consulting at McKinsey & Company and in the mergers and acquisitions execution team at Deutsche Bank, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. In 2002, I was appointed senior manager: corporate development at speciality chemicals manufacturing company Cognis, and was later promoted to European marketing manager for the nutrition and health division. In 2009, I returned back home to South Africa, with my German family, to join Joest as FD
Size of First Pay Packet: I cannot remember
First Job with Present Group: FD
Value of Assets under Your Control: R130-million
Number of People under Your Leadership: About 130
Management Style: It varies according to the situation, but is mostly authoritative and consultative
Personal Best Achievement: Three healthy children
Professional Best Achievement: I feel that my professional best achievement still lies ahead
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My father – he taught me to think big and never to compromise my values
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My family
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: None
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Richard Branson
Philosophy of Life: Now more than ever
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Moving back home to South Africa
Biggest Ever Disappointment: I tend to have great expectations, so I have learnt to deal with disappointments
Hope for the Future: That the world gets back to the basics and that we adopt an honest, fair, ethical and transparent approach in everything we do
Favourite Reading: Mystery fiction
Favourite TV Programme: I have no time for television
Favourite Food/Drink: Local and sustainable South African fresh grilled meat and fish/Sauvignon Blanc
Favourite Music: Rock music
Favourite Sport: Tennis
Favourite Website: Google
Hobbies: My children
Car: Mercedes-Benz Viano
Pets: Two Fila Brasileiros (Brazilian bull mastiffs)
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Complacency and sweet wine
Favourite Other South African Company: Woolworths, for making my life easier by making last-minute healthy instant family meals possible
Favourite Foreign Company: Apple
Married: To Jan, since September 24, 2005
Children: Aurelie, 10; Arnaud, 7; Amelie, 2
Clubs: None