Bob Golden, chief executive of Prompt, is a tree-loving gooner with a taste for expensive towels who hangs loose at work whether its Friday or not.
What newspaper do you read?
The one next to me on the train or failing that the FT.
What career did you want to have when you were a child?
Centre Forward for the Arsenal .
What was the worst business decision you have ever made?
Investing in Millwall FC shares – don't ask.
What do you like best about insurance?
The opportunity to change the way business is conducted, and making money.
What would you do tomorrow if you left the insurance industry?
Manage a wood.
How do you relax if you do not play golf?
Play in my small wood.
What is the biggest insurance claim you have ever made?
£150 for some lost towels – they were expensive towels – honest.
Who do you most admire?
Jack Welch – GE President.
Bob Golden, chief executive of Prompt, is a tree-loving gooner with a taste for expensive towels who hangs loose at work whether its Friday or not
Do you have an unfulfilled ambition?
To swim the channel and to never tire of
learning.
On dress down Friday, what do you wear?
We dress down all the time and usually wear something loose and comfortable.
How many people have you sacked?
Sacking is a macho statement, I prefer people to leave of their own volition.
What is your favourite quote?
It is easy to manage in the short term and it is easy to manage in the long term, doing both at the same time is the difficult bit. – Jack Welch, GE President.
What is your most over-used phrase?
So what happens next?
What keeps you awake at night?
I sleep soundly.
What advice would you give someone starting in insurance today?
Challenge everything and remember nobody knows anything.
What was your first job?
I worked a night shift making sandwiches for a delicatessen in the City during the school
holidays.
Where did you grow up?
Highbury and Hertfordshire.
What was your education?
A Levels and MBA at Business school.
What is your favourite film?
Zulu.
What is your favourite book?
Addicted by Tony Adams.
What is your favourite tea?
Assam.
What is your favourite joke?
Service standards in Financial Services.
How often do you use public transport?
Twice a week ? which I find in general to be very good.
Are you in favour of the Euro? Yes/No?
The heart says no and keep our identity. The head says yes if we want to compete on a world stage – the head always wins.
