For the past five years, Hagen Engler has kept the FHM brand at the top of its game, despite operating in one of the most competitive and financially challenging markets in decades. The magazine’s kick-ass content, which keeps readers enthralled, entertained and loyal, has earned FHM much acclaim through numerous awards and the recognition of both readers and advertisers.

This is your chance to get inside the mindset of this lucrative, fun-loving market and the man behind the glossy pages, to find out what really goes down at SA’s kick-ass men’s media brand. We know the voyeur in you can’t resist.

Of course Hagen spends his days hanging with some of the world’s most beautiful women and jolling with FHM readers- but don’t let envy turn you against this cool, intelligent and hard-working media boytjie.

He’s done some awesome and innovative things to ramp up FHM’s readership to more than 800 000. In 2010, FHM scooped the Media24 Excellence Award for Innovation for FHM’s 10th Birthday 3D issue. The 2010 Superbrands Award for Best Men’s Magazine was another notch on its belt.

None of these accolades have gone to his head. He’s really quite down to earth. While Hagen says it’s awesome to get that kind of recognition, he still believes that it’s the readers who have the last word. “It’s imperative that they believe in what the FHM team are doing,” he says.

This author singer, songwriter and surfer is happily married to the gorgeous Nomfundo Engler and since they both hail from the Eastern Cape, they make frequent trips back to The Bay to catch up with family ... and catch the odd wave.

FHM has captured the imagination of its readers, providing them with hilarious, informative and relevant content. With the magazine featuring the most beautiful women in the world, FHM has also been the launchpad for hundreds of successful modelling careers for young South African women.

Hagen knows he’s doing a job thousands of men would kill for. “I thank my lucky stars every day,” he says. “I know FHM is achieving something special and touching people’s lives – not just readers’ lives but the lives of the dedicated staff who live the FHM values and put the mag together.”

At the end of the day Hagen says it all comes down to what the readers want. “You can never lose sight of who you’re producing the magazine for,” he says, “and what they want is more of the crazy adventures we’ve come to expect from FHM.”

One thing Hagen can promise more of in the next couple of months is a healthy – or should that be dangerous – dose of hedonism.

In its September issue, FHM is about to reveal one of its most exciting reader competitions in decades. One lucky FHM reader and three of his best mates stand in line to win a four-night adventure in Las Vegas. All readers have to do is buy the September and October issues of FHM and read up on what to do next.

“With winter and the general economy putting us in a freeze, we’re striving for unadulterated pleasure as we hit the summer season,” he says, “With this in mind we’ve decided to drop R150 000 on a party blow out in one of the world’s most exciting cities.”

All is revealed in the September issue of FHM, out now.