It is surprising, in the welter of questions that one gets at (AGMs), how few actually relate to the performance of the company, or the decisions taken by the board in particular areas.

There is practically no area of business where the difference between rhetoric and actuality is greater than in the handling of people.

The task of industry is continuously, year on year, to make more and better things, using less of the world's resources.

It is the responsibility of leadership and management to give opportunities and put demands on people which enable them to grow as human beings in their work environment.

Planning is an unnatural process; it is much more fun to do something. The nicest thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise, rather than being preceded by a period of worry and depression.

People are unlikely to know that they need a product which does not exist and the basis of market research in new and innovative products is limited in this regard.

People who don't make mistakes are no bloody good to you at all.