She felt there was no money in mathematics.

’In those days, the feeling was that you should become a doctor or a lawyer,’ he remembers.

John compromised and studied Mechanical Engineering in 1969 from Stow College of Engineering in Glasgow, Scotland.

He was awarded a BSc (Hons) in mathematics in 1972 from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow and the MSc in computing in 1974 from the University of London as well as a DIC in computing science, also in 1974 from Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, England.

A computer scientist by profession, John’s love of solving complex problems would ultimately drive him to make a career out of making strategic moves that drove companies forward.

Today, with 38 years of advisory experience under his belt, John has just been appointed managing partner of KPMG in Trinidad and Tobago, the Port of Spain-based, locally owned and operated member of a global network of professional service firms whose aim is to turn knowledge into value for their clients and the capital markets.

In an interview at his Edward St office last Friday, John recalls a professor’s advice that pursue his dream.

He points out that while he was doing that and trying to become a mathematician, he realised his mother may have also been right.

He needed to find a career that would also pay the bills and again, his love of mathematics, steered him toward computer programming.

John returned to Trinidad and Tobago and joined oil company Texaco in 1974. He was recruited by businessman Sidney Knox and joined the Neal & Massy conglomerate in 1979 where he directed information technology.

He remembers the team of experts he worked with to engineer microwave networks for communications (a huge expansion in the 1970s) and admits he’s tried during his career to recreate that team of powerful minds.

Since he moved to KPMG in 1984, he has had client responsibility for major advisory engagements in the public and private sectors in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean.

At the international level, he was a member of the KPMG international team (USA, France and Trinidad and Tobago) that performed a cost effectiveness review of the World Bank in Washington, DC, United States of America.

’What we do is address business issues that companies have,’ he says of KPMG.

These include external auditing, companies business, performance and problem issues for companies at various stages of their life cycles as well as providing independent opinions

’Some of it is akin to solving problems that go back decades,’ he tells the Business Express.

Growth issues and governance are other areas of advisement where John and his team troubleshoot, recommend strategies and assist in development.

The downturn in the local economy is an important area of concern for companies, John says, noting that all companies have issues at different times.

He acknowledges that there is no homogenous way to characterise businesses operating in Trinidad and Tobago and around the Caribbean but is quick to point out that there are some very good ones in the country’s financial landscape.

Asked what advice he would give to local firms, John says: ’Because of the vantage point from which I sit, I would say that many businesses don’t use IT as effectively as they should. It is important that business and IT are properly aligned.’

His interest in development has also led John to make critical moves in other spheres.

He is a past Commissioner of the Elections and Boundaries Commission of Trinidad and Tobago, and a past president of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

He is the chairman of the Chamber’s Dispute Resolution Centre and a member of the subject panel for Computer Science of the Caribbean Examinations Council. He was also, a vice chairman of the Cabinet-appointed, National Electronic Commerce Policy Committee and a past chairman of the Business and Information Technology Advisory Committee of the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTAATT).

Another important passion in John’s life is the game of golf.

John picked up the game 20 years ago after chess to alleviate the stresses of work.

He describes its as ’playing against yourself’.

’You’re getting exercise, you are out there, you are meeting people and it’s a great way to understand the character of person when you are playing golf,’ he says.

He plays competitively and looks forward to his weekend time on the Moka course.

’Sometimes I work late on Friday night and I am usually looking forward to my Saturday morning game,’ he laughs.