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