Paul Lapham

22nd August 2014

  

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Full Name: Paul Lapham

Position: CEO and founder of Citiq

Main Activity of the Company: Acquiring, managing and developing residential properties in Gauteng

Date and Place of Birth: February 10, 1970, Johannesburg

Education: Matric, Saint Stithians; BCom (Hons), University of the Witwatersrand; CA(SA)

First Job: Wearing a dragon suit at the horse races to promote a popular mouthwash. My first serious job was serving accounting articles at KPMG

Career History Prior to Current Position: I joined KPMG as an articled clerk in 1992, specialising in banking and treasury audits. I moved to Absa as the assistant GM of treasury operations in 1996, and then spent some time in the financial markets in risk management and trading at Decillion, Mettle and Rand Merchant Bank. In 2005, I decided to start my own business, focussed on providing value-for-money residential apartments

Size of First Pay Packet: R50 a day, wearing a dragon suit. My package when I was serving my articles was R1 800 a month.

First Job with Present Group: I started the company in 2005 with a big dream and a small capital base. Although I have always been CEO, the nature of the job has changed considerably, as we have grown from one staff member to over 200 people

Value of Assets under Your Control: R1.7-billion

Number of People under Your Leadership: We have 60 people working at head office, in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, and a further 140 in the different buildings that we own

Management Style: I am a very hands-on manager

Personal Best Achievement: Becoming a father at the age of 43 was a major milestone in my life

Professional Best Achievement: Starting my company and steering it through eight years of growth and success. Refurbishing the Silos, in Newtown, Johannesburg, and adding shipping containers to provide trendy and study-friendly accommodation for students

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother – she placed a lot of emphasis on integrity and doing the right thing, and this has been borne out by my own life experiences

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My staff. When you are in business with someone for a long time, your interactions often help you learn more about yourself – one’s strengths and weaknesses and what impact you have had on the people around you

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: I am immensely awed by Nelson Mandela and regret never having met him

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: The late Steve Jobs

Philosophy of Life: Make every second count

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Getting divorced

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Finding out that one’s heroes are often just human

Hope for the Future: That South Africa comes to its senses and starts to realise the enormous potential the country has

Favourite Reading: Naseem Taleb’s Black Swan. I also highly recommend Malcolm Gladwell’s books

Favourite TV Programme: The Good Wife

Favourite Food/Drink: I love a good lamb roast or chicken braai. I start most days with a full breakfast, so this would make me a bacon and eggs kind of guy as well

Favourite Music: Hard rock, heavy metal bands and bands with more lyrical music, such as Live, Marillion and Evanescence

Favourite Sport: Rugby, particularly international matches

Favourite Website: www.yuppiechef.co.za

Hobbies: Reading and eating (and I mean eating and not cooking). I love trying out new restaurants, although I have a couple of favourites I keep going back to

Car: Subaru WRX Sti

Pets: Seven cats and two dogs

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Arrogant people

Favourite Other South African Company: Discovery and Capitec

Favourite Foreign Company: Apple Computer

Married: To Victoria Ryan, since September 9, 2012. We had been dating for some time before we got married, though

Children: Jonathan, 19 months

Clubs: None – unless I can count my golf clubs!

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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