On The Spot With Mike Cluskey

What was your first job?

As a 13-year-old, I worked in the weaving shed and carding room of a woollen mill in Elland.

If you weren’t in your current position, what would you be doing?

I would love to work as a college (American) football coach in the United States.

What was your worst mistake?

During a negotiation in Paris, a misunderstanding between myself and another director on how low we could negotiate resulted in us losing a chunk of margin. These days I always ensure meetings are thoroughly rehearsed.

What would your ideal day be away from the office?

It would definitely involve my wife and son. It would also probably include a good film, some good food, quality music, a long ride on my 1969 Lambretta scooter and being out in the stunning Yorkshire countryside.

Name the person you would most like to have dinner with.

Alan Bennett – an extremely interesting character.

What was your best subject at school?

English.

What are your hobbies?

I volunteer as a coach for the Carnegie American Football team at Leeds Metropolitan University.

What would you do if you won the Lotto?

I would make sure my family were secure and I would also stay involved with the waste industry through strategic investment.

What is your top time-saving tip?

Find people you can trust, then delegate. The first part is the hardest.

What is your favourite time of day and why?

The last moments of night-time through to daybreak.

What is the best thing about being in Yorkshire?

The tenacity of Yorkshire folk.

What would you like your epitaph to be?

He got it right when it counted.