Team Member: Adriaan Verhagen

        Adriaan Verhagen

        Harare

        Zimbabwe, Africa

        Managing Director

        Age 39. Married.

        E-Mail: Adriaan Verhagen

I was born on 7 February 1961 in a small mining town in the south of Zimbabwe, Zvishavanie (Shabani). After completing my secondary education at Chaplin High School in Gweru I successfully applied for selection to the National Service Officer Cadets course which I passed with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.

Once my National Service year was completed I learnt how to fly light aircraft and attended the Cape Aeronautical Academy (in Cape Town, South Africa) where I obtained a Commercial Pilots Licence. I flew light aircraft for a while but decided to change my career path for various reasons.

In 1983, I joined a local textile manufacturing organisation as a trainee manager and gradually progressed my new career direction whilst studying for a Chartered Secretary qualification by correspondence. In 1987 I was appointed Commercial and Export manager for the Company and travelled extensively throughout Zimbabwe, South Africa, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Far East .

In 1991, I was appointed a Director of the Company and of the Group Management Board responsible for the Commercial aspects of the business. (The Group had various divisions manufacturing ladies and childrens clothing and printing curtaining, upholstery and garment fabrics).

During 1995, I was offered an opportunity to join another exciting and dynamic Group to participate in and start up a new, internationally recognised South African franchise in the retail sector, selling clothing and textile merchandise and food under it's own brand name, Woolworths (linked to Marks & Spencer in the UK and not in any way to Woolworth in either the UK or America!).

This has been a tremendous challenge for me and the business has now been trading successfully for nearly three years. We employ 60 people and have plans to expand the business further in the near future.

I am married to Zoe who devotes her time to raising our two children, Robert (16) and Diane (13). My interests include long distance road running, fishing, bird watching and I am an old car enthusiast!


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