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Job title: General manager, FAI Finance

John Lincoln relishes the challenge of boosting businesses.

"I really love restructuring businesses - I get a buzz from looking at where a business is at and turning it around ... Part of it is setting a clear vision and direction," he says. "I focus on people - giving them responsibility, giving them clear goals."

It was the chance to work with a growing company "and a new challenge" that attracted the 45-year-old to his new job.

He knew that FAI was part of Hanover Group, the country's largest privately owned finance company, owned by Mark Hotchin and media darling Eric Watson. He admired the group's reputation for growing successful businesses.

Lincoln started out at the National Bank as a school-leaver and spent 20 years there, leaving as the manager, Auckland branch and Asian banking, with 80 staff.

He was then with Citibank's management team until the company was sold 18 months later and he was made redundant. After a three-month AMP contract ended, he decided to put his business nous to a hands-on test.

Lincoln bought into the Horse and Trap pub in Mt Eden with partners three years ago - "I wanted to see if my skills would transfer" - and set about sending it more upmarket, starting with a "massive restructure".

The "male-dominated sports bar" atmosphere has now been traded for Auckland's first Monteith's themed bar, with conference and meeting facilities.

Lincoln has now sold his share of the business back to his partners to give his full attention to FAI.