Full Name: Gaetano Perillo

Position and Company Name: CEO of Weldamax (trading as Unique Welding)

Main Activity of the Company: Weldamax is a gas and welding consumables distributor

Date and Place of Birth: June 6, 1967, Johannesburg

Schools and Tertiary Education: Matric, Forest High School; national diploma in cost accounting, Wits Technikon (now part of the University of Johannesburg)

First Job: Assistant cost accountant at GEA Aircooled Systems

Size of First Pay Packet: R3 000 a month

Career Path to Date: I joined Air Products South Africa in 1991 as a cost accountant, and I was at the company for 30 years, with the last position I held there being financial manager

Value of Assets under Your Control: In excess of R200-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: 230

Management Style: Leading by example and challenging my team members

Personal Best Achievement: Establishing and running my local neighbourhood

security initiative

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My parents, who instilled in me the values I live by today

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Air Products South Africa FD Keith Foster-Archibald

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Arsène Wenger, past manager of the best football team in the world – Arsenal FC

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Various – there is no one specific person

Philosophy of Life: By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail

Biggest Ever Opportunity: My current position

Biggest Ever Disappointment: None

Hope For the Future: To stay healthy and safe

Favourite Reading: Autobiographies and the latest sports news on various Google websites

Favourite TV Programme: Live sports

Favourite Food/Drink: Italian and Indian cuisine and the occasional glass of wine or beer

Favourite Music: 80s and 90s

Favourite Sport: Football and the Sport of Kings

Hobbies: Hiking and travelling – both local and internationally

Car: Toyota Fortuner

Pets: Ali, the family Maltese poodle

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Blatant disrespect of by-laws by most of our citizens

Married: To Renchia

Children: Kaley, 21; Marizell, 30

Clubs: Morningside Country Club