Gaetano Perillo CEO of Weldamax (trading as Unique Welding)
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