John Foster

Born in the North of Ireland and educated in Belfast, Los Angeles and Cambridge, John read Economics at King's, before joining Arthur Andersen, the accountants, in 1976.

After three years in London, there followed three successful years in Andersen's Milan Office. John became fluent, not only in the Italian language, but also in Italian accounting techniques. At the same time he explored the delights of the Italian ski resorts, the history and culture , the islands and the beaches.

Returning to the UK in 1983, John left Andersen in 1986 to become Finance Director of a US owned advertising agency Aspect Hill Holliday. There followed an MBO in the early 90s and, five years later, a sale to Saatchi & Saatchi. In 1997 John joined the Aegis Group rising to Group Finance Director in the UK. In that role John was not only responsible for all aspects of Aegis UK's finance, IT, Legal and HR operations but also led an active acquisitions programme aimed primarily at digital.

John recently stepped down from his position at Aegis and has spent the past year trying to improve his golf game (with mixed results, it must be said) and skiing.

John's love of skiing began in the early 80s, when he and his wife, Diane, lived in Milan. The resorts of the Val D'Aosta, of Switzerland and of the Alto Adige were within an easy car journey. Since then John has skied extensively in France and Switzerland. Lately his skiing has been on the Italian Via Lattea near his apartment in Pragelato, which overlooks the 2006 Olympic cross country course.