How does Kingston, Jamaica, look this time around?

The city is looking good. I went to our Carlton Crescent store and everyone’s happy with LIME’s new range of phones.

What has surprised you the most about Kingston?

The friendliness of the people from the immigration officer this morning to the hotel porter to PM Portia Simpson Miller. She has to be the friendliest prime minister in the Caribbean.

What’s your preferred beverage?

As a former Diageo man, it’s Guinness and Red Stripe.

What cologne are you currently splashing?

Bvlgari.

Share with us the title of the last book you read.

Girdle Around The World: the History of Cable & Wireless. I joined at the beginning of the year and I wanted to know where we went wrong.

What was your last major splurge?

Dr Dre Pill — Bluetooth boombox. It’s awesome!

What kind of music do you enjoy?

Anything from Bob Marley to Coldplay.

Share with us a few places in your travel black book.

I’ve been discovering the secret Caribbean — I love Exuma Cays in The Bahamas, Mustique, and Anguilla. Now I’m enjoying the cultural capital of the world — Kingston, Jamaica.

You have made what some might say is an interesting switch from British Gas to Diageo and now telecommunications; what keeps you motivated?

People, learning new technologies and experiencing new cultures, and getting to work with government, and our customers.

What is your definition of success?

Creating a winning team.

…And failure?

Not keeping your promises.

What’s your best trait and, conversely, your worst?

Building a winning team spirit. Impatience.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Recruit people around you who are smarter than you. I’ve never found it too difficult to do!

A good CEO is…

…prepared to listen and change their views.

What can LIME customers look forward to in the next few months?

Better value, faster and more reliable networks, faster broadband speeds and LIME TV.

If you were able to sit down at dinner with three present or past innovators, who would they be and why?

From history I love the inventions that drove transport — steam engine, diesel engine, jet engine — so any of those inventors.

And from the telecoms industry — Steve Jobs (the late co-founder of Apple, Tim Berners-Lee (inventor of WWW), and Martin Cooper, inventor of the mobile phone.

Some deem the telecommunications industry more competitive than customer-friendly. What say you?

We’re investing $250 million in the country and we’re ready to compete. But we’ve also got the best service in Jamaica — as assessed by the regulator.

Finally, what’s your philosophy?

Treat people as you’d like to be treated — and smile!