Full Name:Bülent Tüfekçioğlu

Position and Company Name:Chairperson of the board of Tüfekçioğlu Rubber Machinery and Mining Inc

Main Activity of the company: Manufacturing of ore beneficiation machines, slurry pumps, hydrocyclones and rubber mill linings for the mining and ceramics industries

Date and Place of Birth:October 12, 1953, Ankara, Tükiye

Schools and Tertiary Education:I completed my primary and secondary education at TED Ankara College, and continued my high school education at the 2nd Technical High School (Sanat Enstitüsü)

First Job:I started working in the turning department of our family’s rubber footwear factory

Career History Prior to Current Position:I joined the company in 1971, starting with basic shopfloor duties in every department. After going completing all orientation stages, I gradually rose to the top managerial position

Size of First Pay Packet:As a bachelor and still living with my family, I got a first pay packet from my father that was just enough to go to classical music concerts and movies a couple of times in a month

First Job with Present Group:Our factory did not supply rubber mill liners before 1978, andI designed and produced them – that was my first job

Value of Assets under Your Control: $25-million

Number of People under Your Leadership:115

Management Style:I make decisions quickly and stand by them. While I’ve made mistakes, I never regret them — I turn them into valuable lessons and experiences

Personal Best Achievement:My business career thought me to be patient and to spend at least 10 to 12 hours of thinking before making big decisions

Professional Best Achievement:Developing new designs, obtaining patents, and successfully introducing these innovations to global markets

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

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career:The academicians who started their careers in the field and than continue in the universities

Person You Would Most Like to Meet:Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the secular, modern Republic of Türkiye

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You the Most: My father

Philosophy of Life:To arrive at work before everyone else, to do a good, solid job, to always say the truth and to leave the office after everyone else

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Toproduce the mining machinery for which I produced the spare parts

Biggest Ever Disappointment: None

Hope for the Future:To continue working, being productive, and enjoying good health

Favourite Reading:The Count of Monte Cristo,by Alexandre Dumas

Favorite TV Programme: National and international current affairs programmes

Favourite Food:Fresh turbot fish from the Black Sea

Favorite Music:Jazz and rock’n roll from the 1970s

Favourite Sport:Basketball

Hobbies:Playing backgammon with friends

Car:Mercedes-Benz

Pets:Our factory garden is home to pigeons, cats, dogs and chickens that live alongside me

Miscellaneous Dislikes:Lies

Favourite other South African company:We are new company in South Africa and I do not know the companies well enough to answer this question

Favourite Foreign Company:I cannot answer this question

Married: To Nesrin Tüfekçioğlu since July 12, 1975

Children: Büke Kayalar, 1976; Elif Tüfekçioğlu, 1978; İpek Tüfekçioğlu, 1988

Clubs: Rotary Club