KEY POINTS:
* Officer of the Order of Merit.
* For services to business and the community.
* Co-founder of Datacom.
* Age: 68.
* Family: Married with two children.
* Home: Auckland.
Paul Hargreaves has enjoyed a varied career including accountancy, technology, the Antarctic and helping people who have suffered domestic violence.
It's a winding path that has led Hargreaves to be honoured this year as an Officer of the Order of Merit.
"I must say I was honoured obviously that colleagues who I've worked with closely over many years had seen fit to put my name forward," Hargreaves said.
He started out as a chartered accountant with a practice in Christchurch before co-founding IT services company Datacom in 1965 - the company now employs more than 2000 people.
He has been involved with several companies including the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, the Gallagher Group, the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development and the New Zealand Antarctic Institute.
His community work has included the Laura Ferguson Trust in Christchurch, Domestic Violence Centre, HiGrowth Project Trust, National Council of the New Zealand Automobile Association and the Antarctic Heritage Trust.
