Full Name: Nico Jacobs

Position: Director: operations

Main Activity of the Company: Informal eating outlets

Date and Place of Birth: August 10, 1972, Cape Town

Education: BCom, University of Cape Town

First Job: Area manager for a large retail company

Career History Prior to Current Position: Head of small-business banking at a large bank

Size of First Pay Packet: Not stated

First Job with Present Group: Director: operations

Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated

Number of People under Your Leadership: Five people looking after training and the franchisee operations business

Management Style: Leading by example and empowering

Personal Best Achievement: I was in the top three in the world online word game, Abacus

Professional Best Achievement: I was part of a great team that tripled the net profit of the unit in four years at a previous employer

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My father

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Sir Richard Branson

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Sir Richard Branson

Philosophy of Life: For Him to increase I have to decrease

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Being part of the opening ceremony at the 1995 Rugby World Cup

Biggest Ever Disappointment: A relative defrauding me in a previous business

Hope for the Future: That we take better care of children and the elderly

Favourite Reading: The Big Book

Favourite TV Programme: Dragon’s Den

Favourite Food/Drink: Paprika chicken/toffee milkshake

Favourite Music: UB40

Favourite Sport: Football

Favourite Website: www.manutd.com

Hobbies: Reading

Car: BMW

Pets: Two American Staffies

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Laziness

Favourite Other South African Company: MTN

Favourite Foreign Company: Virgin

Married: To Dawn, since January 2000

Children: Danielle, 10; Gabrielle, 6

Clubs: Cape District Football Club