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!