Full Name: Carlos Poñe
Position: CEO: Africa, AECOM
Main Activity of the Company: AECOM is a fully integrated infrastructure and support services company
Date and Place of Birth: February 28, 1955, Maputo, Mozambique
Education: Mechanical engineering, Maputo; BSc (Hons) (operations management), Hertfordshire; advanced diploma in production management; postgraduate diploma in manufacturing strategy
First Job: Teacher
Career History Prior to Current Position: MD of a major Mozambican mechanical construction company, 1982; production manager of a South African pump manufacturer, 1985; VP and CEO of ABB sub-Saharan Africa, from 1993; CEO at ABB UAE; executive director of AECOM UAE; CE: Africa, AECOM (since October 2015)
Size of First Pay Packet: R250 a month (in 1974)
First Job with Present Group: Executive director of AECOM UAE
Value of Assets under Your Control: We sell expertise
Number of People under Your Leadership: 1 200
Management Style: Open-door; transparent; teamwork; accountability; lead, not micromanage
Personal Best Achievement: I look to the future rather than the past, as I believe there are even more amazing achievements to come
Professional Best Achievement: Every promotion and new job I have had. I do not measure achievement by business volume, but by challenges overcome
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My wife
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: No single person
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Charlie Chaplin, Nelson Mandela and Malala Yousafzai
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Percy Barnevik
Philosophy of Life: Put family first, walk the talk
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Becoming MD of the biggest metal construction company in Mozambique at 27, in charge of 726 people
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Not yet
Hope for the Future: Peace in the world
Favourite Reading: I am addicted to general and business news, including sports (Spanish and Portuguese)
Favourite TV Programme: Soccer and Formula 1
Favourite Food/Drink: Mozambican prawns or Mozambican peri-peri chicken/a glass of good white wine (definitely Portuguese), a glass of good red wine (definitely from South Africa)
Favourite Music: A good mix, some Portuguese music
Favourite Sport: Soccer
Favourite Website: News 24, Bloomberg
Hobbies: Not stated
Car: BMW X5M
Pets: Three dogs (German Shepherd, Boxer, Miniature Dachshund) and a wild cat
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Dishonest and untrustworthy people, corporate politicians
Favourite Foreign Company: General Electric
Married: To Graça
Children: Two sons aged 34 and 30, two grandchildren
Clubs: Zimbali Country Club
Edited by: Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor
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