Full Name: Timothy Mark Frankish
Position: MD of SolarSaver
Main Activity of the Company: SolarSaver is an innovative solar photovoltaic solutions company that offers its clients a capital-expenditure-free rent-to-own model
Date and Place of Birth: April 11, 1981, Pietermaritzburg
Education: BBusSci (finance and accounting), University of Cape Town, 2002; postgraduate diploma in accounting, 2003; MBusSci (finance) (cum laude), 2004
First Job: Audit clerk at PwC
Career History Prior to Current Position: PwC – 2005 to 2006; Bravura Capital – 2007 to 2014; Fig Tree Resources Fund – 2014 to 2015
Size of First Pay Packet: R75 000 a year, in 2005
First Job with Present Group: Founder
Value of Assets under Your Control: R250-million
Number of People under Your Leadership: 20
Management Style: Between total control and total panic
Personal Best Achievement: Balancing the needs of a rapidly growing business with those of a rapidly growing family
Professional Best Achievement: Starting SolarSaver and seeing it grow into a successful business
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My wife
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My father-in-law, Mark Batchelor
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Phillip Rosenthal, of Somebody Feed Phil. I love travelling and trying foods from around the world, so that show is right up my street
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Jeff Bezos
Philosophy of Life: Don’t put off anything you want to do in life
Biggest ever opportunity: Taking a year off after articles to backpack around the world by myself
Biggest Ever Disappointment: I would have loved to study abroad, and to study something just for interest’s sake rather than with any career outcome in mind
Hope for the Future: To be in a position to give my girls the chance to become anything they want to be
Favourite Reading: A good crime thriller
Favourite TV Programme: Somebody Feed Phil
Favourite Food/Drink: Dim Sum, with Char Kway Teow, from a street vendor in Penang, a close second
Favourite Music: Alternative rock and Indie
Favourite Sport: I grew up trout fishing but have now become addicted to hunting yellows and tigers
Favourite Website: The Guardian
Hobbies: Flying my very small, very old plane and tying flies in preparation for my next fishing trip
Car: VW Amarok
Pets: Two (usually wet) golden retrievers
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Waiting in queues
Favourite Other South African Company: Nando’s
Favourite Foreign Company: Uber
Married: To Sarah Batchelor, since October 9, 2010
Children: Katherine, 7; Sophie, 5; Lauren, 10 months
Clubs: Country Club Johannesburg; Wanderers Hockey Club