Post doctoral scientist who went into corporate finance and general management in the City for 25 years before developing a portfolio of non-executive appointments in quoted companies.After studying Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge and a research career at the Universities of Reading and Bristol, I spent some 20 years working in the City, firstly with Lazard Brothers, where I gained a wide range of experience in corporate finance with clients involved in a number of sectors, and then with the London Branch of Banque Paribas where I was responsible for Corporate Services as well as the expansion of Branch business by development of new activities. In this general management role I recruited a team of Senior Executives, project led the purchase and redevelopment of freehold premises in Lombard Street on which the bank made a substantial profit, established a joint venture banking operation in Dublin with the Smurfit Group and identified the opportunity to acquire the leading stockbroking firm of Quilter Goodison, of which I became CEO. Following the sale of the company to the Commercial Union I chose to leave the Paribas Group to extend my already existing portfolio of non-executive appointments.I have been Non-Executive Director or Chairman of quoted and unquoted companies. I was Chairman of the Dyson Group, and of Zoo Digital Group and was previously Chairman of Gremlin Group and of the Aspect Group, which became part of LBIcon AB of which I was a non-executive Director. I have also acted as non-executive director of, amongst others, Prime Focus London,Yorkshire Water, Birse Group, Kunick, Rensburg Aim VCT, Bannatyne Fitness, and Cartier Limited, the UK subsidiary of the luxury goods company.Together they have given me a broad range of corporate experience with a particular focus on management restructuring and fundraising. I have held a number of additional positions, including with the Yorkshire region of the Prince's Youth Business Trust.