After University, I worked overseas for a multi-national, then came back and worked in Brand Management. After a spell in a London Advertising Agency as an Account Director and copy-writer I moved to International Sales Director for a soft drinks company, gaining the Queens Award for Export Achievement.

I then left to fulfil every marketing man's dream by becoming chef-patron of my own group of Good-Food-Guide-listed restaurants.

During this period I was also a columnist in a monthly magazine and a regular radio broadcaster, which gave me the background to set up Messages into Words in 1996.