I grew up in Northern Ireland. My first job was on my father's farm and in my brother's retail shop. After that came Cardiff. Then Okayama, working for the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Then eight years at PwC in New York doing M&A due diligence. Then back to Japan with Vasiliki, who was at Goldman Sachs.
I had spent some time running my father's farm earlier in life and I knew it was not for me. So when Sapphire was still an idea more than a business, I knew I had to give it the push it needed. Vasiliki and I came home to Belfast in 2009 and built it from nothing. We are still at it.
I am Chairman of Cancer Focus Northern Ireland. I am a qualified fly fishing instructor and most weekends I am on the Sixmile River fishing for trout.
We have three children, two boys and a girl. The oldest is named William, after my father. I am still wrong about most things at home and I expect this will continue.
I try to run every morning before work and read or study every evening. We travel to Connemara in the west of Ireland every year. I can speak basic, very rusty Japanese. My favourite pub in Belfast is Kelly’s Cellars.
I think the best ideas are not all coming from London, and I have been trying to prove that since 2009.
