Full Name: Jeffrey M Christian

Position: Managing partner, CPM Group

Main Activity of the Company: CPM Group is a commodities market research, consulting, financial advisory and asset management firm

Date and Place of Birth: February 3, 1955, St Louis, Missouri, US

Education: Bachelor of Journalism, with a major in political science; postgraduate work in international economics, econometrics, finance and political science in nondegree programmes at several universities

First Job: Associate editor for new products at McGraw-Hill Publication Co

Size of First Pay Packet: Not for disclosure, but larger than had been anticipated and larger than considered typical at the time for a person in my position

Number of People under Your Leadership: Ten employees

Management Style: Some combination of encouragement and leadership, some hands-off and some closer management

Personal Best Achievement: Probably marrying my wife and raising two boys to successful adulthood

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My wife and, professionally, Herbert Coyne, chair of J Aron & Company when I was there

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Perhaps Herbert Coyne and possibly Robert Rubin

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: The Dalai Lama

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Sir James Goldsmith

Philosophy of Life: Existentialism, trying not to believe anything, avoiding all theories

Biggest Ever Opportunity: There have been several

Biggest Ever Disappointment: There have been many

Hope for the Future: That I continue on several commodities and energy projects for at least another decade; that I die peacefully

Favourite Reading: Albert Camus, history

Favourite TV Programme: News

Favourite Food/Drink: So many foods: spaghetti con broccoli, other pastas, paella; drinks: Scotch and bourbon

Favourite Music: Blues

Favourite Sport: Soccer

Hobbies: Playing music, bicycling, running, gardening, cooking, archery

Car: Honda

Pets: None

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Fools

Married: To Kathy Farnen Christian, since 1977

Children: Andrew; Eric

Organisation Membership: International Precious Metals Institute; I believe I quit most of the others