PREMIUM: Sir Mick Davis: The SA mining magnate rejuvenating UK’s Conservative Party

Warren Buffett urges us to highlight our disappointments and talk modestly of our successes. Sir Mick Davis is clearly a convert to this approach as you'll hear in this fascinating interview with a Port Elizabeth-born wunderkind who kicked on to become one of the global mining industry's dominant personalities. After the earning stage of his life, the now 58 year old Davis has closed up his business shop and is moved into the serving period. Reason: he believes the British economy is faced with an "existential" challenge. Davis regards the rise of a hard-left Labour Party as deeply threatening to the UK and much that has contributed to its economic success over the past few decades. During the wide-ranging discussion he also repeats direct advice given to South Africa's mining minister when Davis outlined why he would recommend against investing in the country – but proposing four changes which turn him back into a supporter. This in-depth interview unpacks lessons from Davis's career and looks ahead to his next challenge as CEO of the UK's governing political party, a post which carries huge responsibility and takes him back into the public spotlight. – Alec Hogg

I'm with Mick Davis in his offices in London. It's a fascinating time in politics, we've got changing leadership models around the world, and you're now at the heart of it. South Africans know as a boy from Port Elizabeth who got to the top of the corporate ladder. So what attracted you to the political game and in particular, the Conservative Party, where you're now the CEO?

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