Jim has an honours degree in Business Studies, sponsored by Shell. It was a great opportunity because it provided a full salary whilst still at college, as well as real on the job work experience.

He then qualified as an accountant with Coopers & Lybrand (now PWC) before venturing into financial services, mainly providing leasing and other asset finance products Whilst a Deputy Director of Hungarian International Bank, Jim had his first real foray into the world of forklift trucks. The bank owned a sizeable minority equity stake in Hamech and Jim was their board representative for six years, until Hamech was acquired by Crown.

Jim became managing director of Boss Trucks and Boss Group. Boss held three Queen’s awards for exports and very much had a global outlook. This has proved very useful to Flexi, who export to over 70 countries. Boss was acquired by Jungheinrich and then for some 11 years, Jim was managing director of Jungheinrich UK Since January 2019 Jim has been Chairman of Flexi, where his main role is to develop and monitor strategy.

Anyone who knows Jim will be aware he is a devoted Crystal Palace supporter. Together with his two boys he is a season ticket holder and a regular follower at away matches. Normally rational and logical, Jim is invariably expectant of imminent great football triumphs but somehow this predicted success is never realised. Still hoping ……….