Full Name: Sean McCoy

Position and Company Name: Founder and director of HKLM

Main Activity of the Company: Strategic brand and communication consultancy

Date and Place of Birth: December 22, 1962, Durban

Education: I am a student for life and constantly learning. I hold a BCom, an MBL and a PhD and am also a Chartered Marketer (SA)

First Job: My first formal post-school job, which was cut short by compulsory military service, was as a management trainee in the retail liquor industry. My first post-military job was as a security guard

Size of First Pay Packet: About R75 a week

Value of Assets under Your Control: Not applicable – HKLM is an independent service-based firm

Number of People under Your Leadership: 42 people in a specialist consulting environment

Management Style: I take a lead-from-the front approach and never expect people to do what I myself am not prepared to do. I try hard to refine the art of recruiting great, talented people and then getting out of their way

Personal Best Achievement: Four fantastic children and two granddaughters; raising R250 000 for Boys & Girls Town through a personal 1 000 km challenge

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

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Johan Redelinghuys – he played a very influential role in my career development, both as company chairperson and as a mentor

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Al Pacino – I love his direct, what-you-see-is-what-you-get screen persona; Roger Federer – not for his tennis prowess, but to understand his humility and groundedness, despite such personal success

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Internationally – Howard Schultz, of Starbucks, for his vision in integrating brand experience and organisational culture; locally – Adrian Gore, of Discovery, for challenging category convention and building an incredible business

Philosophy of Life: Challenge the status quo – never accept things as they are and be fearless and unrelenting in pursuit of excellence and finding a better way

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Having tea and scones with Nelson Mandela, before personally introducing him to officially open Electra Mining ’96

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Turning R1 into 2c on a sizeable private placing investment during the JSE listings rush in the 90s

Hope for the Future: A prosperous, productive and successful South Africa

Favourite Reading: Business literature. I also enjoy good friction during holidays

Favourite TV Programme: I tend to avoid TV as a time thief and confine viewing to sports events and selected movies – SuperSport, therefore, is my channel of choice

Favourite Food/Drink: South African braai and a good-quality Cabernet Sauvignon

Favourite Music: I have a wide variety of tastes but have a soft spot for some of the rock of the 70s and 80s

Favourite Sport: I am an avid spectator of soccer and rugby and participate regularly in endurance events, including running, triathlon, cycling and mountain biking. I am desperate to play better golf!

Hobbies: Besides spending time with my family, taking part in endurance sport and reading, I love travel and the great outdoors, and scuba-dive and water-ski at every opportunity

Car: I have become a complete Toyota convert – I have a Prado for outdoor South Africa

Pets: Two dogs, Roxy and Chezzy, and a goldfish

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Arrogance, particularly when supplemented by ignorance. I struggle with incompetence and have no empathy for people trapped in mediocrity as a result of laziness or lack of a work ethic

Married: Second time round – Tracy and I have been together for 15 years and been married for 6

Children: Clayton, 32; Kyle, 30; Maxine, 27; Olivia, 18

Clubs: Johannesburg Country Club, Dainfern Country Club