Full Name: Andrew William Hames

Position: Group director: global mining solutions and director: energy, mining and construction, Africa region of G4S

Main Activity of the Company: G4S is a global integrated security company with particular strength in the energy, mining and construction industries. It has operations in more than 120 countries across six continents and has 618 000 employees. It specialises in the outsourcing of business processes in sectors where security and safety risks are considered a strategic threat; it operates in 25 African countries, where it has more than 118 000 employees

Date and Place of Birth: August 24, 1970, Christchurch, New Zealand

Education: Christchurch Boys High School; Lincoln University (Sir Arthur Sims Scholarship), Bachelor of Commerce and Management, majoring in marketing, management, economics and accounting (professional accounting papers); member of the New Zealand Society of Accountants and the Association of Chartered Accountants in the US

First Job: Outside my lawnmowing and maintenance work to get me through university, it was group accountant at House of Travel Group

Size of First Pay Packet: NZ$3 500 a month

Value of Assets under Your Control: G4S has a market capitalisation of £3.8-billion. My revenue portfolio is in excess of £216-million a year

Number of People under Your Leadership: 28 000 across six continents and 62 countries

Management Style: Collaborative

Personal Best Achievement: My happy and healthy family and watching my children grow in confidence

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother – unselfish and generous

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My late father, Peter Hames – he ‘persuaded’ me to study accountancy, which, in hindsight, gave me an early appreciation of the language of business

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Warren Buffett

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: The late Sir Peter Blake – his leadership-in-action style and ‘why not?’ attitude came together to produce greatness

Philosophy of Life: Get involved

Biggest Ever Opportunity: It is yet to come

Biggest Ever Disappointment: The lack of time spent with dispersed family and friends

Hope for the Future: Happiness and good health to all and that my children dream big and do great things

Favourite Reading: Fish & Game magazine, autobiographies

Favourite TV Programme: Any sports channel and Charlie Rose

Favourite Food/Drink: Fresh Vietnamese cuisine and New Zealand lamb/Central Otago Pinot Noir, South African Pinotage, craft beer and whiskey

Favourite Music: Jazz, but anything from the Rolling Stones to Counting Crows, from Neil Finn to Pacific style drum ‘n’ bass/reggae and groove-based rock

Favourite Sports: Yachting, cricket, rugby, hockey and golf

Hobbies: Flyfishing and horse racing

Car: Audi

Pets: No – however, my daughter is asking the question

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Corruption

Married: To Ngoc

Children: Sophie, 5; Charlie, 3

Clubs: Singapore Cricket Club, Valley of Peace Cricket Club, Canterbury Club, Centre of Contemporary Art