John Longworth, 58
Lives: Harrogate, North Yorks. Family: Wife Sheila, one son, one daughter. Education: Smithills Moor Grammar School Bolton, Salford University.
Career: Director general of the British Chambers of Commerce from 2011 to March this year. He set up his own company, SVA, a science and IT business, in 2009. Past roles include a directorship of Asda. Hobbies: Cycling, running, opera, theatre, travel.
In his sights:
÷ David Cameron: Longworth called the former PM ‘gutless’ for delaying the expansion of Heathrow. ÷ Number 10: He says Cameron’s advisers sent him regular ‘s**tograms’ when he disagreed with government policy. ÷ Schools: For failing to prepare pupils for work – he says many youngsters are unemployable because they don’t know how to talk to customers and can’t turn up on time. ÷ Robert Peston: He said the tendency to spread ‘gloom and doom’ on the economy was a case of ‘Pestonitis’. Best advice ever received: ‘In business, former Tesco chief executive Sir Ian MacLaurin said you can work as hard as you like but if it is in the wrong direction it is of no value. Government need to be mindful of this. From my parents: shrouds have no pockets. Having been very ill as a young man, enjoying every day as it comes is my philosophy.’
A day in the life: ‘During the [referendum] campaign I might be up at 4am to do Radio 5 Wake up to Money followed by a string of other broadcast appearances. I was writing an opinion piece for the press every week, touring on the battle bus then an evening debate. On the most intense day, I made a speech at a business in Stratford on the battle bus in the morning, a debate in the City of London at lunch time, a debate in the afternoon against Boris’ father Stanley Johnson and a debate in the evening. I then went on Newsnight. Phew! This was typical.’