Full Name: Nazmi Adams

Position: CEO of Weldamax

Main Activity of the Company: Industrial gases and welding distribution

Date and Place of Birth: February 1961, Cape Town

Education: BSc (chemical engineering), University of Cape Town; MBA, Wits Business School

First Job: Metallurgical engineer at Anglo American

Career History Prior to Current Position: GM: sales and marketing, Afrox; global marketing director, Linde Gas, London; global marketing director, ESAB, London

Size of First Pay Packet: R1 300 a month

First Job with Present Group: CEO

Value of Assets under Your Control: R211-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: 240

Management Style: I develop a compelling vision and create the team, the structures, the culture, the competences and systems to deliver the vision

Personal Best Achievement: My daughters’ graduation from prestigious British universities

Professional Best Achievement: Serving as an executive in a FTSE-listed company

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

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Royden Vice

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Jack Ma

Philosophy of Life: To be judged not by my position or wealth, but by the number of lives I enriched along the way

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Appointment as global marketing director for the BOC Gases Group, in the UK

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Current destructive trade wars

Hope for the Future: The eradication of poverty, especially in South Africa

Favourite Reading: None

Favourite TV Programme: Vikings

Favourite Food/Drink: Everything that my wife makes

Favourite Music: Classical music

Favourite Sport: Squash

Favourite Website: News24

Hobbies: Gardening

Car: BMW 335i Coupe Performance

Pets: None

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Ostentatious display of wealth

Favourite Other South African Company: Gift of the Givers

Favourite Foreign Company: Jasic

Married: To Jasmine, for 30 years

Children: Nasreen, 28; Shihaam, 23

Clubs: None