Peter England is the chief executive of RAKBank. The 53-year-old, from Australia, moved to the UAE in September last year to take up the post after previously working as a senior banker at Malaysia’s CIMB Group. He has an 11-year old daughter called Charlie and a seven-year-old son called Lewis.
What are your favourite things to do on the weekend?
Where to start? The family and I have a water ski boat up at Umm Al Quwain yacht club, so that is a regular weekend activity and a great way to spend time with the family and friends and when it’s cool enough we will camp up there at the yacht club. During winter I also am an avid car racer, so I race in the UAE Touring car championship which runs at the Dubai Autodrome and a few rounds at Yas Marina Circuit. Since my son is into go-karting, I try to take him to the track when we can find the time. I’m also usually out on the Al Qudra cycle track before the sun comes up to try to do 40–50 kilometres to keep fit. So the weekends are almost as busy as weekdays.
What do you consider to be your favourite hobby?
I’d have to say my motor racing. It’s absolutely addictive. I’m also a keen cyclist, which is certainly great for your health, but nothing can really match the adrenalin rush of racing. When I lived in Malaysia up until last year I used to race a 1980s Ford Capri and a late 1980s Porsche 944, which I still own. These might sound like quite pedestrian old cars, but these are purpose-built race cars which are incredibly fast around a racetrack. In Dubai I race something a bit more modern, but to me purpose-built classic racing cars are the ultimate.
What can’t you live without?
My wife and children. At the end of the day, family is really what matters. We can all get hung up with the material trappings of life, but when it’s all said and done what’s the point if you don’t have loved ones to share your life with you?
What do you consider the secret to your success?
For me it’s working my way up from the absolutely bottom of this business. My first job was making up boxes to file papers in a bank branch. I think this makes you much better at understanding the needs and wants of your team, and customers as well. Too many senior executives are completely detached from what really goes on in their organisation.
What advice would you offer others starting out in your business?
Be creative and take risks to achieve what you want. Always try to work for someone that inspires you to greater heights. If they don’t, stay only as long as you need, particularly if they think that ruling by fear is true leadership. Focus on making sure you achieve results rather than your rank in the organisation and the success will come to you.
How do you achieve a work-life balance?
This one is tricky. My wife is very good at keeping me in check and making sure that I don’t become too consumed in my work, especially on weekends. My two relatively young children also help make sure I stay grounded.
How do you relax after the working day?
It’s probably more before the working day with either my personal trainer or a midweek very early bicycle ride at Al Qudra. Some evenings I’ll get out on the bicycle as well after the children are in bed and my wife and I generally go out for dinner (just the two of us) at least once a week.
If you weren’t chief executive, what else would you be doing?
Being the CEO of a great bank like RAKBank really is my dream job so there isn’t anything else I’d rather be doing. We have incredibly supportive shareholders, an exceptional chairman and a very strong team from board level down, so what more could you want? I guess though if I was 30 years younger and had more talent I would have wanted to be a professional motor racer. If I ever get around to retiring I’d like to restore classic cars from the ‘70s and ‘80s.
arayer@thenational.ae
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