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