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