With a personal web page boasting a 4,700-word tome on economic philosophy, Baxendale cites "the strategy and plotting aspects" as his favorite part of the job.

But intellectual pursuits aside, he has shown himself to be a man of direct and successful action.

Since founding his first company 17 years ago while still in university, his business empire has grown to include the largest fresh fish wholesaler in the United Kingdom.

Selling to the foodservice sector -- top-end restaurants, hotels, pubs, caterers -- the company reported a turnover of £100 million ($201 million/€128 million) last year, and a tidy 7.6