CHRIS Gauld was born and educated just outside Aberdeen.

He studied business with hospitality in Edinburgh and, after a three-year spell travelling and working as a chef in Australia, set up a recruitment business in Scotland in 2001.

That company initially focused on the hospitality sector, before extending its services to the office and logistics sectors.

In 2004 he joined property specialist Grant Management, where he worked in a range of roles before joining Canadian entrepreneur PJ Darling as sales director. He rose to the post of managing director in January 2009, before succeeding PJ Darling as chief executive in March.

Mr Gauld, who skis and enjoys competing in triathlons, lives in Edinburgh with his girlfriend and two children.