Tony McLean

May 1 2007 By Evening Gazette

Chief executive, Castlebeck Group, of Darlington.

What did you want to be when you were young?
I originally wanted to be a pharmacist as all the pharmacists I came into contact with were my father's friends and they were all rich! But sense prevailed and I quickly realised that nursing was my calling.

How much was your first pay packet and what did you spend it on?
It was £23 from working as a shelf stacker while I was doing my A levels. I went out and immediately bought a new pair of ice hockey boots.

What's your dream job, other than your current one?
A position as CEO running the equivalent of the NHS on Barbados. I was there in November and it is the most beautiful place on earth!

What's the best piece of business advice you have received?
Don't worry about losing the odd battle, it is winning the war that is important. A previous chairman of mine said this to me when my then NHS trust had not been awarded a contract that we wanted.

And the worst?
Invest in dot coms!

What is your philosophy when it comes to business?
Always aim to deliver the best quality service you can in the best facilities you can afford and do not compromise on this. It is something we manage to achieve in Castlebeck and it is this uncompromising stance that has won us so many awards this year, such as being in the Nursing Times top 100 awards and Sunday Times top performing companies.

What are your hobbies?
As I am away from home working during the week, spending time with my wife and three daughters is very important to me. When it is not ski season and I am not up mountains skiing with my family and friends then it is out on the mountain bike in the local forest getting muddy and bruised.

What's your top business or financial tip?
Honesty is always the best policy and to operate a zero tolerance policy to people who do not keep the interests of our patients at the centre of their care.

Does anything scare you and if so what?
Failure scares me. But with my professional background in nursing in the three fields of general nursing, psychiatry and health visiting, I have seen pretty much everything that can be done to and against people. I think this has made me the robust character I am.

What would you choose as your epitaph?
A hard one that - instinct tells me "Beneath this sod lies another one." But I would like it to be something like: "He tried to live life to the full while giving something back to society for being dealt such a good hand in family life and work."