30-SECOND CV

that always had this burning ambition to be either my own boss or to be the boss of someone else’s company. The route I finally went down was obviously starting my business from absolute scratch.” He founded Grant Property in 1996 with his thenwife Colette, who retains a 50 per cent stake in the business.

The company’s formation came after an initial buy-tolet purchase by the pair proved very successful and they kept adding to the portfolio. It also led to working with friends he knew from Aberdeen who had gone into the oil business, were working in the likes of the Middle East on good salaries and were looking to invest. They, in turn, put him in touch with other expats in locations like Singapore.

He says the firm’s growth was rapid, and 21 years after it ● Born: Haddington, 1961 ● Education: BA in business studies, MBA Edinburgh University, Dip Marketing ● First job: Counting laps on a go-kart track, aged ten. ● Ambition while at school: To be a helicopter pilot ● What car do you drive: Audi Q7. Ordered a sports car from a client who is starting to build cars started out, it now generates revenues of £12 million a year, covering about ten cities in the UK, with clients in 13 countries and having helped people invest “well over” 2,000 times. It also says it is unique in Britain in managing ● Music: I love Spotify. Favouriteall-timeband is The Eagles. Current favourite is Coldplay. ● Kindle or book: Book ● Can’t live without: My skis. I might as well be dead ● What makes you angry: People who don’t care ● What inspires you: Isee every day as a new adventure ● Business icon: Probably one of the Sir Toms. (Hunter, Farmer). ● Best business advice: Don’t listen to all the people who say “it’s not possible”. the whole journey from finding properties, refurbishing them, seeking out the tenants and then managing the lettings.

Inscotlanditcoversedinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, Dundee and Aberdeen,