Full Name: Richard Mukheibir
Position: MD of Cash Converters Southern Africa
Main Activity of the Company: Cash Converters is an international franchise operation specialising in the buying and selling of preowned household goods and the provision of financial services in the form of small secured and unsecured short-term loans
Date and Place of Birth: May 28, 1961, Cape Town
Education: BCom (majoring in economics, accounting and information systems), University of Cape Town
First Job: Barman in the Arniston Hotel
Career History Prior to Current Position: After graduating from university, I joined the corporate information technology world. I found this frustrated my natural business inclinations and, in April 1994, I was eager to cosign with Peter Forshaw (now the company’s FD) for the master licence for Cash Converters in Southern Africa
Size of First Pay Packet: R650 a month
First Job with Present Group: Store owner/manager of the Parow store, the first Cash Converters store in Southern Africa
Value of Assets under Your Control: R300-million-plus in store assets. Cash Converters is a franchise organisation. This year, we plan to open our ninetieth store in Southern Africa. Our franchisees have reported double-digit growth over the past five years
Number of People under Your Leadership: With 90-plus stores in Southern Africa, Cash Converters has over 50 franchisees, which support over 1 000 employees and their families
Management Style: At Cash Converters, we live by our values. We are passionate about our business model, our franchisees and our customers
Personal Best Achievement: My family
Professional Best Achievement: The success of Cash Converters in Southern Africa
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My parents
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Brian Cumins, Cash Converters founder and former chairperson
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Jim Morrison, lead singer of The Doors
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: University of the Witwatersrand vice chancellor Professor Adam Habib
Philosophy of Life: It is what it is
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Cash Converters Southern Africa
Hope for the Future: That we continue our company’s mission of helping people get on with their lives
Favourite Reading: Books on leadership, politics, history, economics and other topical subjects
Hobbies: Fly-fishing
Favourite Other South African Company: Discovery Group
Favourite Foreign Company: Cash Converters International
Married: To Kathy
Children: Not stated
Clubs: Not stated