Full Name: Juliano Saldanha Vargas

Position: CEO of Zest WEG Group Africa

Main Activity of the Company: Electrical equipment manufacturing and distribution in sub-Saharan Africa

Date and Place of Birth: April 15, 1974, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Education: Degree in electrical engineering and postgraduate qualifications in electrical rotating machines, production engineering and strategic business management

First Job: Quality control engineer at WEG’s Motors division in Brazil

Career History Prior to Current Position: I have been with WEG for 22 years, serving as quality control engineer and quality control supervisor at WEG’s Motors and Energy divisions in Brazil; project manager of WEG Integrated System (SAP implementation) for WEG Brazil units; global service manager at WEG’s Energy division; VP of operations at WEG Electric Corp, in the US; and group logistics and operations director at Zest WEG Group Africa

Size of First Pay Packet: About $600, as an engineering intern

First Job with Present Group: Quality control engineer

Value of Assets under Your Control: R3-billion

Number of People under Your Leadership: 700

Management Style: Open-door, open-minded and empathetic, high standards expected

Personal Best Achievement: Being able to build strong family bonds, even though we are distant from one another

Professional Best Achievement: Achieving Level 1 broad-based black economic empowerment status with Zest WEG back in 2018

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My parents

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Alvaro Carvalho Filho (my first manager) and Sergio Schwartz (my first director at WEG)

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Barack Obama

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: WEG Global CEO Harry Schmelzer

Philosophy of Life: Treat everyone with respect, regardless of their status in life

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Being able to live abroad with my family, experiencing different cultures and environments

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Not stated

Hope for the Future: That there is an increase in true global cooperation

Favourite Reading: Philosophy, culture and biographies – I am currently re-reading Steve Jobs’ one

Favourite TV Programme: Discovery, NatGeo and History Channel shows (Air Crash Investigation is addictive) and cooking shows

Favourite Food/Drink: Slow-roasted lamb shoulder, full-bodied red wines (a good Uruguayan Tannat or a South African Pinotage or Shiraz)

Favourite Music: One, by U2. I like mostly rock and hard-rock classics, but I am very eclectic – I also like jazz, a bit of pop and classic music

Favourite Sport: Soccer and Formula 1 mostly, but I also enjoy rugby, American football, tennis and volleyball

Favourite Website: CNN

Hobbies: Cooking and playing the guitar

Car: Land Rover Discovery Sport

Pets: Jessie, a West Highland White Terrier

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Smoking, arrogance and stupidity

Favourite Other South African Company: Sasol and Discovery

Favourite Foreign Company: Apple and Tesla (almost South African company)

Married: To Leticia, since November 2001

Children: Vitoria, 14

Clubs: Sport Club Internacional (Brazil), Liverpool Football Club and Atlanta Hawks