Full Name: Francisco Baudrand

Position and Company Name: CEO of Enaex Africa

Main Activity of the Company: Production and supply of explosives used for blasting applications in the mining sector in Southern Africa

Date and Place of Birth: October 1, 1977, Santiago, Chile

Education: I completed my primary and high school education in Chile, before studying to become a civil industrial engineer at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, graduating in 2002. I went on to complete an MBA at the same university in 2006. In 2015, I had the opportunity to further my education at Harvard Business School, in Boston, where I became an alumnus of the Executive Education Senior Management Program

First Job: My first job was at Agunsa, a Chilean company specialising in port operations, logistics and investments in private ports. I later moved to its sister company, a shipping company focused mainly on container transport, where I served as line manager for services connecting Asia with South America

Size of First Pay Packet: My first professional salary was 750 000 Chilean pesos a month at Agunsa, in September 2002. This would be equivalent to about R15 000 at today’s exchange rate. But even before that, I was entrepreneurial; I sold cheese in my neighborhood to earn my own money from the age of 16. I also had to take out a loan to afford university

Career Path to Date: After six years in the port and shipping industry, I was offered an opportunity to become senior manager for strategic planning in the freight business at LATAM Airlines, the largest and most prestigious airline in Chile. Four years later, in April 2011, I joined Enaex in Chile as director of strategic planning and business development. At only 33 years of age, I was entrusted with leading Enaex’s international expansion. As an expert in mergers and acquisitions, I played a key role in the acquisition of our subsidiaries in Peru, Brazil, France and South Africa. The South African business, a joint venture with Sasol, where Enaex has 51% control, led to the creation of Enaex Africa, where I have served as CEO since July 2020. Our journey has not been easy, but the company is now healthy, growing and profitable, supported by a great team of empowered and committed people

Value of Assets under Your Control: Close to R5-billion

Number of People under Your Leadership: 1 400 employees – this number includes employees in South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia, Botswana and Zambia

Management Style: I believe in empowering and delegating as much as possible, while also being a close and approachable leader to my team

Personal Best Achievement: Successfully leading the journey to establish Enaex Africa as the best and most reliable supplier to the mining industry in Southern Africa. I’m especially proud of the opportunity to positively impact and change the lives of so many people, both our employees and the underprivileged communities we support, with a strong focus on early childhood development

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother – she passed away in 2009

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My wife, Marcela

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: I wouldn’t single out a specific person, as I enjoy meeting good and well-intentioned people

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Steve Jobs – his creativity, vision and the way he changed entire industries have really stuck with me

Philosophy of Life: Make things happen, impact and change lives as much as you can; always feel challenged and challenge the rest; but, ultimately, be happy, make your family happy and enjoy life

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Becoming the CEO of Enaex Africa

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Difficult to say; I try never to look back

Hope for the Future: To have better human beings in the world every day, as it is only good people who can shape the world for the better

Favourite Reading: Second World War novels

Favourite TV Programme: None

Favourite Food/Drink: Good South African wine

Favourite Music: 1980s rock and pop music

Favourite Sport: Golf and soccer

Hobbies: Sports, and family, family, family . . .

Car: BMW, but never too luxurious

Pets: Rabbits

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Too much noise

Married: To Marcela

Children: Francisco, 13; Trinidad, 11; Santiago, 9; Elisa, 5

Clubs: I am a member of the Country Club Johannesburg in South Africa and of a golf and polo club in Chile