Full Name: John Nigel Tarboton
Position: Executive director of the Southern Africa Stainless Steel Development Association (Sassda)
Main Activity of the Company: Growing the stainless-steel finished-product market
Date and Place of Birth: February, 25, 1966, Harare, Zimbabwe
Education: BSc (Eng) Physical Metallurgy, 1988, University of the Witwatersrand; Certificate in Management, Henley Management College, 1997
First Job: Metallurgist, research and development (R&D) laboratory, Columbus Stainless
Career History Prior to Current Position: Senior R&D metallurgical engineer, 1990 to 2002; senior technical customer services engineer, 2002 to 2013, at Columbus Stainless
Size of First Pay Packet: R40 000 a year
First Job with Present Group: Fabrication and welding sector manager
Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated
Number of People under Your Leadership: Ten
Management Style: Servant leader to our members and participative leader to the Sassda team
Personal Best Achievement: Marrying my wife and having our children
Professional Best Achievement: My contribution to the knowledge base of 3CR12
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My grandmother, Peggy Forshaw
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Colin Waters, who recruited me, and Don Maxwell, MD of 3CR12 International, who inspired me to believe in the impossible
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Nigel Mansell
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Richard Branson
Philosophy of Life: Do not sweat the small stuff
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Receiving a bursary from Middelburg Steel & Alloys, which enabled me to study at university
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Crime, corruption, unemployment and a sluggish economy
Hope for the Future: That South Africa becomes all that it has the potential to be
Favourite Reading: Noseweek, IFLScience
Favourite TV Programme: Mrs Brown’s Boys, The Following, Homeland
Favourite Food/Drink: Medium-rare rump steak/South African wine
Favourite Music: Queen, Meatloaf
Favourite Sport: Sailing, watching cricket and Formula One
Favourite Website: www.sassda.co.za
Hobbies: Braaing with my family
Car: Opel Astra
Pets: Two dogs, three cats and eight kittens
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Poor drivers and their flagrant disregard for the rules of the road
Favourite Other South African Company: Woolworths
Favourite Foreign Company: American Society of Association Executives
Married: To Susan Niccolls, since September 21, 2001
Children: Samantha, 13; Robin, 9
Clubs: Lake Deneys Yacht Club