Full Name: Arun Chadha

Position: CEO of Allied Steelrode

Main Activity: Allied Steelrode is a value-adding steel processor and supplier

Date and Place of Birth: April 21, 1959, Pune, India

Education: Chartered accountant

First Job: Doing the accounts in a restaurant at the age of 16

Career History Prior to Current Position: I qualified as a chartered accountant at the age of 21 and worked in a cable company until 1983. I then went to Oman and worked for Suhail & Saud Bhawan as chief accountant until 1987. The following year, I moved to Zambia and worked for Lonrho until 1993. I started Allied Chemical & Steel in 1994 and merged it with Steelrode in 2011

Size of First Pay Packet: 400 rupees, in 1981

First Job with Current Group: Founder of Allied Chemical & Steel and Group CEO of Allied Steelrode

Value of Assets under Your Control: R2.7-billion

Number of People under Your Leadership: 510

Management Style: Directive

Personal Best Achievement: Providing basic infrastructure and facilities for villages in rural India and, together with my business partner and executive director, Warne Rippon, growing the merged Allied Steelrode to become the best steel company in Southern Africa

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother, who stood by me through thick and thin

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Deb Basu Thakur, MD of Lonrho Zambia

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Tiny Rowland

Philosophy of Life: Give more than you receive

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Transfer to South Africa as CEO of Allied Chemical & Steel

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Not having children

Hope for the Future: That there will not be a Third World War

Favourite Reading: Forbes magazine and works of fiction

Favourite TV Programme: Sports

Favourite Food/Drink: Sushi/whiskey

Favourite Music: One Republic

Favourite Sport: Golf

Favourite Website: News24

Hobbies: Golf, music and reading

Car: Range Rover

Pets: None

Major Dislikes: Laziness

Favourite Other South African Company: Naspers

Favourite Foreign Company: Apple and Google

Clubs: Woodmead Country Club Johannesburg