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Achievement. Success.
What inspires you?
Many things, but particularly: great talent at work and seeing real effort paying off.
Strongest influences.
My father: a strong and principled man, who, amongst many other things, taught me that life isn't always fair and that no problem gets solved by running away from it.
My wife: warm, compassionate, a great listener-and a saint for putting up with me and my business meanderings for the last 25 years!
My mother: the personification of user-friendliness
Other interests.
My family generally. Listening to music. Reading. Current affairs. Most things Italian. Modern art. Films. Trying to stay reasonably fit. Football.
Favourite quotation.
"Nothing in the world can take the place of determination. Talent will not - nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not - the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'press on' has solved, and always will solve, the problems of the human race." Calvin Coolidge.
Best decision.
(Business). Making the decision to row our own boat with Quantum.
Greatest regret.
Very few actually. Not taking up the opportunity of a position in the U.S. before we had the children is the closest thing to a 'regret' I can think of.
Happiest business moment.
First major contract win at Quantum in early 1993.
What would you change about British business if you were given the opportunity?
Focus government on ensuring that markets are genuinely open and then let businesses get on and do what they do best with minimal interference and bureaucracy.
Fantasy job.
Steve Gerrard's role in the England team.
Most admired businessperson.
Mark McCormack.
Least favourite personal characteristic.
Excessive perfectionism.
Pet hate/s.
Litter. Political correctness. People who can't park their cars between two white lines in a car park.
Most over-used phrase.
"A pint of Stella Artois please".
Other people's most over-used phrase.
"At the end of the day".
What makes you laugh?
Champagne Socialists. Peter Cook & Dudley Moore. Woody Allen. Steve Coogan. Ricky Gervais. The Simpsons
Favourite city.
Florence.
Greatest extravagance/s.
New suits and shirts - and cd's.
Current reading.
'Catching Fireflies' by Tony Rocca.
Favourite albums.
'Kind Of Blue' Miles Davis. The First Roxy Music Album. ‘Everything Must Go’ Steely Dan. ‘Station To Station’ David Bowie.
