Age...

48

Education...

School/university/MBA – Oakwood Park Grammar School, Vos Folk High School, Newcastle University (Scandinavian Studies)

Family...

Cathy, Camila, 20, Will, 18, Sasha, 14.

How would you describe what you do to a Martian?

We lend people money to buy items for their homes.

If you weren't what you are what would you be...

A farmer

Who inspires you most and why?

My father. His values are my values.

What do you wish you'd invented?

Antibiotics

What would you do differently?

I would have carried on playing football into my thirties.

What I'm watching and listening to...

Good films at Broadway. I don't listen to music. I listen to the radio.

My advice to the Government is...

Push for more personal responsibility

If I wasn't doing business in Nottingham, I'd go to...

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

I'd be lost without my...

First, my family and secondly, my football team, Sunderland.

Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter?

Linkedin

What I'd really like to say to the banks is…

There are still plenty of really good people that work for banks. Make sure these people have a voice.

Friends would say I'm…

A Sunderland fan

My indulgence is...

Golf

One thing in the world I'd change right now...

Remove child suffering from the world

The best place to eat and drink is...

French Living

I drive a...

2 Litre diesel BMW

My most important set of numbers is...

37 and 73 (Sunderland's last major trophy wins) or our monthly management accounts

I always have in my pocket...

Snus (Scandinavian snuff)

I'll tell you what annoys me...

Public sector waste and sensational journalism

What makes me laugh is...

My youngest son

My last holiday was to...

Northumberland

I am currently reading...

Death of Kings

The one thing I've learned...

Ageing really happens.