Ben Elliot

With offices in 64 cities around the world, it is sometimes a challenge to ensure that I've got my finger on the pulse with every one, everywhere. Staying in touch means early rising for calls with China and Japan, and late calls with the U.S.

Fastidious attention to detail makes the difference between an OK service and first class service.

When you think about the word 'quintessentially', it's about trying to get to the very essence of something.

I studied politics and economics at Bristol, and people always assumed that I'd go into politics or a non-government organisation when I left. I might well do this later on. I'd love to represent a West Country seat in the House of Commons.

In my heart and soul, I am a West Country man, and ideally, my weekends are spent there.

It's not marriage that I crave. Many of my friends who have married are pretty miserable. Within a year and a half, most of them are either unhappy or divorced.

A quintessential experience is to raft the Rio Grande through the Blue Mountains, stopping off at waterfalls and having picnics of barbecued fish.

For me, life is not about gold taps and marble all over the place.

I don't believe that saying things because you feel they are what people want to hear is the right way to be in any part of your life.

The way I choose to live my own life rates time and space as real luxuries.

Once you're involved in a business, it's part of what you do. It's the way you are.

I don't set out to be connected. My business has allowed me to meet lots of interesting people, some of whom have become friends; but you can't force it. This terrible word - 'networking' - I really hate.