What do you currently do?
I’m Chief Executive of Money Advice Group – a North West financial solutions company. I founded the company with my wife, Shelly, back in 2002, and have been here ever since!
What is your inspiration in business?
For me, continual improvements are the biggest inspiration – be it staff, partners, turnover. Within six years, Money Advice Group had grown from a modest team of five, to a staff of 100. And in the last four years, that number has more than doubled again. We have also established several strategic partnerships, which have blossomed over our 10-year presence. Our continued growth and reassessment of our business model and the ways in which we can improve, has helped us achieve our 8% market share of the fee charging financial solutions industry, and generate an estimated turnover of over £20 million in 2012/2013 – an increase of 25% since last year!
What defines your way of doing business?
Money Advice Group’s mission statement and the core values that underpin it define my way of doing business – Integrity, Teamwork, Professionalism, Respect and Excellence as Standard. We set up MAG to provide clear and ethical support and advice to consumers, and have always sought to go above and beyond what is required of our business by industry regulations to ensure we remain at the forefront of an increasingly more compliant industry.
Who do you admire?
I admire anyone who possesses the determination to succeed, especially those who have come from humble beginnings. The willingness to work hard and a tenacity to keep going when confronted with inevitable obstacles are admirable qualities, and the backbone of any entrepreneur.
Paul Jones
Harvard alumni and former New York Times journalist. Editor of Business Matters for over 15 years, the UKs largest business magazine. I am also head of Capital Business Media's automotive division working for clients such as Red Bull Racing, Honda, Aston Martin and Infiniti.
