Nisar John - Management Consultant
1) Where do you come from? Where do you live?
I'm a Londoner - of Pakistani stock – living in Kensington.
2) What do you do and which is the most interesting aspect of your job?
I'm a Management Consultant with one of the large firms practicing in the Sourcing & Procurement area. Apart from working with colleagues and clients in different countries, one of the most interesting aspects of my role is that I get to see how different businesses work from the inside. We help our clients realise greater efficiencies (and profits) from their supply chains, which is particularly important in current depressed markets.
3) How has the present economic crisis affected your industry?
Spend on Management Consulting as a whole has softened over recent months, however there are some areas that continue to see strong demand. We have recently won new business from organizations looking to identify cost reductions opportunities through taking a diagnostic approach – they realize that particularly in lean times such as these it is easier to grow profit through better procurement and cost management than it is to do so through increased sales.
4) Which is your favourite book? And film?
No favourite really. I like reading, and enjoy most things by Thomas Hardy, and the usual classics. Currently, I'm reading Anna Karenina (which is great but for the amount of space devoted to farming methods!). Ditto, films. I particularly liked ‘Blade Runner’ by Ridley Scott, and I saw ‘Frida’ recently which was surprisingly uplifting.
5) What is your connection with Puglia?
I have several friends from Puglia and Conversano is one of the nicest little town I visit often – Corte Altavilla is the perfect pied a terre.
6) What are your plans for the future?
Not many - I try to stay in the present and make decisions about my future based on the choices that life every now and then presents...
