Full Name: Chandru Gope Wadhwani
Position: Joint MD of Extrupet
Main Activity of the Company: Recycling of plastic bottles
Date and Place of Birth: December 22, 1966, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Education: BSc (business studies), City University Business School, London, UK
First Job: Foreign exchange clerk, Banque Nationale de Paris, London, UK
Career History Prior to Current Position: Not stated
Size of First Pay Packet: £750 a month
First Job with Present Group: GM
Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated
Number of People under Your Leadership: 520
Management Style: Not stated
Personal Best Achievement: The birth of my sons
Professional Best Achievement: Winning over Woolworths to support the use of recycled plastics in its packaging
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My mother
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: My late grandfather, who was not only an accomplished businessperson, but also a visionary ahead of his time on social and environmental issues in post-British India
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Richard Branson – I admire his ‘voice’ and willingness to be engaged on all subjects
Philosophy of Life: If you think you can, or you think you can’t . . . you are right
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Every opportunity we get to engage children on the subject of the environment. You see the possibility of meaningful change beaming from their eyes. There is no greater opportunity than that
Biggest Ever Disappointment: The brand owner we could not convince to walk the talk
Hope for the Future: That we all open our minds and calendars to ponder the uncomfortable truths of our modern lifestyles
Favourite Reading: The Economist
Favourite TV Programme: Documentaries
Favourite Food/Drink: Lebanese / Craft beer
Favourite Music: Jazz
Favourite Sport: Golf
Favourite Website: BBC.com
Hobbies: Travel, reading, golf
Car: Audi A5
Pets: None
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Absurdly loud motorbikes
Favourite Other South African Company: Richemont
Favourite Foreign Company: Apple
Married: To Shana, since August 25, 2002
Children: Aman and Arjun
Clubs: Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club