Who taught you to drive?
My dad taught me when I was 14. We spent a bit of time in supermarket car parks and then I had the job of being a chauffeur. He was a great teacher, relaxed and no drama.
Manual or automatic?
I prefer automatic now, but only to deal with motorway traffic. If I was to drive from Cape Reinga to the Bluff, I would definitely go manual, it's more fun and you feel genuinely connected to the car.
Most memorable road trip?
Jimmy Spithill [Aussie yachtie and America's Cup skipper] and I are good mates, much to the displeasure of some of my other mates! We were travelling through Peru a few years ago and got off the beaten track and ended up in a remote little village at the base of the Andes. The villagers were not too happy about us interrupting a ceremony and we had masked Peruvian Indians surrounding us and trying to take our money and vehicle. With a bit of charm and a few US dollars we were back on our way. We even got them to take some photos with us once they calmed down!
Any similarities between selling businesses and selling cars?
Where there are similarities, it is the variance in the quality of brokers or salespeople. A good broker and good company will understand their clients' needs and not waste their time, and will not try to push something on them that's not suitable.
You travel often? How do you adjust to driving on the right?
It is a nightmare sometimes, especially when you are tired and jump into a car and forget where you are. I was in Hawaii where we are looking at opening another branch of Link and drove for 10 minutes on the wrong side of the road until a friendly local pointed out my mistake as he drove up on to the curb to avoid me.
What do you listen to in your car?
I listen to songs on my iPhone; often rock classics like Led Zeppelin or Metallica, but I do like listening to audiobooks, too, if I have a longer drive.
Great day trip out of Auckland?
Out south to Maraetai and then around all the gorgeous bays to Duders Beach and then down North Road to Clevedon. It amazes me how many Aucklanders haven't done this drive.
Do you judge a person by what they drive?
Never. I know amazing people who drive bombs for one reason or another, and I know absolute idiots who drive beautiful cars. You can't even judge their bank balance as most high-value cars in Auckland are leased and plenty get repossessed!
What irritates you most about other drivers?
Dangerous overtaking on open roads.
Would you rather drive in Auckland or take public transport?
I'd rather ride a scooter than get a bus.
Who else is allowed to drive your car?
Anyone who would be covered under my insurance. I'm not precious about my cars.
