When you were at Brighton College, what did you want to be when you ‘grew-up’?
I attended Brighton College from 1991 to 1996 as a day pupil in Durnford House. During my time at the College I recall wanting to be pretty much everything from a professional cricketer, a chef to a scientist.
Tell us about yourself now you've grown up.
I’m not sure I have…hopefully the kid inside me is still there!
My love of Brighton remains, and I’ve not been able to leave the city other than for a few years in Leeds for university. I managed to convince my beautiful wife, Sandy, to move here and we bring up our two very active boys in this wonderful place.
What about your life now would most surprise your Brighton College teachers?
That I now work at the College!
What are your favourite memories of your time at school?
It was all about the sport for me and I loved the wide variety of sport I got to play pretty much every day. My greatest memory though was having the opportunity to go on a cricket tour of Zimbabwe whilst at the Prep School – this was an unbelievable experience for a 12 year old getting to stay with local families (which is probably not allowed these days) and having the chance to feel the spray from Victoria Falls as you approach it through a forest.
What advice would you give to your school age self?
Don’t be afraid of trying new things as you never know what you might be good at.
What do you do as a career?
I started the early part of my career at KPMG where I qualified as a chartered accountant. After 3 years in Audit I was persuaded by a friend and fellow OB, Andrew Nichol (Ha. 1988-98), to join the Corporate Finance team which turned out to be a fantastic move working on mergers and acquisitions. Having kept close contact with the College I was then approached by the Bursar (and former colleague) to help it grow its family of international Brighton College schools having recently opened its first school in Abu Dhabi. Excited by this opportunity I jumped at it and remain at the College today having grown the international family of schools to five with more in the pipeline.
What does your work involve?
Simply put: opening Brighton College schools around the world to help as many children as possible to benefit from a Brighton College education!
What are you most proud of?
Seeing my two wonderful boys developing into better versions of myself.
What are the three objects you would take with you to a desert island?
My BBQ, my Japanese kitchen knives and some BBQ tongs…cooking is my Happy Place!
How would you like to be remembered?
Just to be remembered would be brilliant ?