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