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