Full Name: Dr Richard Brian Malkin
Position: MD of Workforce Healthcare
Main Activity of the Company: The provision of workplace healthcare, including risk-based assessments for employees and corporate wellness programmes. Workplace Healthcare also operates an employee assistance programme call centre
Date and Place of Birth: April 21, 1954, Johannesburg
Education: Matric, Damelin College, 1972; BSc, University of Cape Town, 1976; MBChB, University of Pretoria, 1982
First Job: I opened my own practice in 1986 in Berlin, in the Eastern Cape
Career History Prior to Current Position: I started Capital Alliance Health, the precursor to Workforce Healthcare, in 1997
Size of First Pay Packet: The practice turned over about R30 000 a month, with my net income being about R15 000
First Job with Present Group: MD
Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated
Number of People under Your Leadership: 85
Management Style: I provide the basic picture but I like the managers to colour it in
Personal Best Achievement: Shooting five under par in 1985, closing my first R1-million-a-month deal and raising three beautiful children
Professional Best Achievement: Graduating in medicine and owning my own healthcare company, despite my mathematics teacher predicting that I would never even pass matric
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: At some point I was in the same class as a sage, Manny Cahn, who eventually died of brain cancer
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My wife, who allowed me to pursue my dream, even through all the difficulties we faced; she supported me when I decided not to go back into medical practice just to make more money
Person You Would Most like to Meet: Moses Maimonides, a giant of the twelfth century – he was a philosopher, doctor, community leader and sage
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Arnold Friedman, a school friend who struggled at school but went on to create Spartan Truck Hire with his father. The company is now a massive national business
Philosophy of Life: Leave the world a little better than you found it
Biggest Ever Opportunity: My business partner and Workforce Holdings chairperson Ronny Katz’s decision to invest in my dream
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Having to liquidate my previous business in 2003
Hope for the Future: That Workforce Healthcare plays a major role in the planned National Health Insurance programme
Favourite Reading: Biographies
Favourite TV Programme: Sport
Favourite Food/Drink: Sunday family braai/a good red wine
Favourite Music: Pre-90s
Favourite Sport: Golf – I have been playing golf for 50 years
Favourite Website: Not stated
Hobbies: Reading
Car: Toyota Fortuner
Pets: Three dogs
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Dishonesty, sugar and doubt
Favourite Other South African Company: Discovery Health
Favourite Foreign Company: Samsung
Married: To Meryl, since 1990
Children: Daniella, 25; David, 19; Eitan, 18
Clubs: Wanderers Golf Club