Each week we shine the spotlight on a member of Dorset’s business community and ask him, or her, for answers to our part fun/part serious questionnaire. This time…

He loves watermelon and could eat it all day, gets angry at lying and people going back on their word, selects his grandfather as his childhood hero and chooses freshly cut silage as his favourite smell because it takes him back to summer evenings on the family farm as a child.  

Robert Rutherford, CEO, QuoStar, takes the 20 Questions’ hotseat.

Question: What is your favourite TV show?

Answer: I don’t watch a huge amount of TV but, as I’ve always liked fantasy, it would probably be Game of Thrones.

Q: Who would you like to share a car with?

A: I think Elon Musk would be very interesting.

Q: The best bit of my job is…?

A: Sitting and listening to a client or prospect’s challenges and opportunities and seeing a way to deliver an exciting outcome for them.

Q: And the worst…?

A: I do struggle with any sort of administration.

Q: Who was your childhood hero?

A: My grandfather. He was a large influence in my life, in terms of honour, traditional values and respect. Everywhere we went people knew him and held him in high regard – I was always very proud of him.

Q: What’s your favourite smell?

A: It may not be the nicest smell, but the smell of freshly cut silage always takes me back to summer evenings on the family farm as a child.

Q: Where’s your favourite place in Dorset?

A: Having spent my childhood growing up on the farm it has to be somewhere along the river in my home village of Spetisbury, near Blandford.

Q: What advice would you give to anyone starting out on a career?

A: Work hard on yourself and your knowledge in the field you have chosen. You should spend at least an extra hour a day doing something to develop yourself in your working life. You can’t be a top athlete if you just go to the gym three times a week, it’s the same for your career. You need to go above and beyond in your formulative years to stand out and to build your career foundations. It is, of course, also essential to look after the other areas of your life and ‘try’ to have a balance.

Q: What was your first record/CD?

A: Dexys Midnight Runners: ‘Come on Eileen’.

Q: What gets you angry?

A: Lying and people going back on their word.

Q: Do you have a favourite piece of music?

A: Vide Cor Meum by Patrick Cassidy

Q: What are the qualities you look for in a new employee?

A: Tenacity, attention to detail, humility and honesty.

Q: What’s your favourite food or dish?

A: Any seafood, but particularly fresh local oysters.

Q: Steamed sponge pudding and custard or a plate of melon?

A: I do love watermelon. I could eat that every day.

Q: Name the best thing about living/working in Dorset?

A: Having the sea, fields, forests and rivers all around.

Q: If you were Prime Minister for the day what would be the first thing you do?

A: Ensure that large international businesses earning large profits in the UK pay their fair share of tax.

Q: What’s your biggest frustration?

A: People not taking responsibility and accountability for their actions and behaviours.

Q:  Where’s your favourite holiday location?

A: Right now, it would just be somewhere familiar in the Marbella area. Somewhere I know well, can just truly relax and not feel like I need to run around and see anything.

Q: Where do you see yourself in ten years’ time?

A: I’d say more time abroad, both relaxing, experiencing new things, and meeting new people, as well as finding new opportunities for QuoStar.

Q: What would you like to be remembered for?

A: Being a good father and member of the community.