Full Name: Lilian Simon
Position: Aveng Grinaker-LTA Mechanical & Electrical divisional MD
Main Activity of the Company: Industrial construction and engineering in the structural, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and piping disciplines
Date and Place of Birth: May 29, 1969, Luneville, France
Education: Mechanical engineering degree, University of Nancy, France, 1994; PhD in physics and chemistry, University of Nancy, 1998;
MBA, University of the Witwatersrand, 2007; member of the Project Management Institute, 2010
First Job: Commissioning engineer
Career History Prior to Current Position: I worked for Alstom for 17 years. I started as a power plant commissioning engineer, a position I held for five years, working on projects worldwide. I later moved on as a project manager, working on maintenance projects for three years, before serving as service and workshop manager for another three years. I have also served as project manager of Sisonke (the partnership between Alstom and Aveng Grinaker-LTA) at the Medupi power station project and of Iqembu (the partnership between Alstom and Aveng Grinaker-LTA) at the Kusile power station project
Size of First Pay Packet: R600 000 a year
First Job with Present Group: My current position
Value of Assets under Your Control: R1.8-billion
Number of People under Your Leadership: 3 500
Management Style: Leading by example, being firm but fair, employing an open-door policy and communicating before implementing change
Personal Best Achievement: My family
Professional Best Achievement: My current position
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My grandparents
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My former bosses
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Warren Buffett
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Jack Welsh
Philosophy of Life: You can always do better and can achieve more
Biggest Ever Opportunity: I hope it is still to come
Biggest Ever Disappointment: The way the world is turning out
Hope for the future: To turn around the division I am leading so that it gets back where it belongs – at the top
Favourite reading: I am not that much of a reader, but I like reading the news and educational books. I know this may sound boring, but I have completed a PhD – studying is part of my DNA!
Favourite TV Programme: News, documentaries, sport
Favourite Food/Drink: I am French; I love my wine and the food that goes with it – exquisite cuisine
Favourite Music: South American-flavoured music
Favourite Sport: Playing golf and watching rugby; I would like to get back to cycling
Favourite Website: Le Figaro (French news), Boursorama (stock market news)
Hobbies: Motorbiking, travelling
Car: Audi Q5 3.0 TDI
Pets: None
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Dishonesty and blame-shifting
Favourite Other South African Company: Sasol
Favourite Foreign Company: Airbus
Married: To Sonia Navarro since July 22, 2006
Children: Juliette and Clovis (three years old)
Clubs: Virgin Active