I am married to Kate and we have 3 small children to run our lives for us. In the little spare time I have I enjoy football (watching rather than playing now, given the age of my knees), whisky (a hobby shared by Kate, honest!) and training to be a football agent for when the boys grow up (I can dream, can't I?).

Born and brought up in Campbeltown in Kintyre I left the town to come to Glasgow in 1985.

After graduating from the University of Glasgow in 1988 as Bachelor of Accountancy, I trained with Neville Russell (now part of Mazars) a national firm of Chartered Accountants. After qualifying as a CA in 1991,  I continued at Neville Russell in a management role for a further 5 years, working principally with owner managed businesses including companies, partnerships and sole traders.

Joining Pannell Kerr Forster (another national firm) in 1996,  I spent the period until 1998 managing the audits of a number of substantial companies, groups and plcs, including several household names.

In 1998 I was given the opportunity to become a partner in Hastings & Co, a Glasgow CA practice involved in insolvency, accountancy, and financial services work. Within 8 months, myself and George Neilson, my fellow partner, had agreed a buy out of the entire accountancy division - clients, staff, systems, the lot - to set up Neilson Renton & Co.

The practical experience gained from developing my own business has provided me with a valuable insight into common problems experienced in operating a business. I prefer to establish a close working relationship with proprietors, partners and directors in order to obtain a keen understanding of their businesses.

Since the formation of our firm we have been successful in growing the practice and attracting a wide range of new clients.

Will you be next ?