CAREERS: Q&A with ... Peter Duncan, Byford International

Your greatest work achievement?

Leading the development of the four premium menswear brands in India and spearheading the step-change in attitudes in that market towards international, ready-to-wear brands.

Dream brand to work on and why?

Ermenegildo Zegna of Italy on account of its updated classical image, immense creativity and unwavering commitment to quality.

What would you do if you weren't in marketing?

Field of education.

What was your big break?

Setting up in 1989 the brand licensing division of Coats Viyella as marketing director and thus enabling me to focus exclusively on licensing as a model for the global development of brands.

Who was your mentor?

My first marketing director at Barrie Knitwear, who taught me the importance of product knowledge and focus, customer service and an international perspective.

What's the secret to your success?

I have always tried to combine the traditional Scottish/British strengths of integrity, openness and consistency with an informed and enquiring attitude to the world at large.

How do you handle difficult clients?

Let them talk, record what they have to say, analyse it fairly, and robustly but courteously if necessary, and deal with the issues raised. There is no better opportunity to secure a long-term customer relationship than to deal professionally and productively with a complaint - real or imagined!

Advice to your successor?

Travel widely, read well, listen more often than you speak - and learn Mandarin rather than French!

What are you currently reading?

David Landes' 'The Wealth and Poverty of Nations'.

Business person you most admire?

Paul Smith, who built from scratch a global brand that updates traditional British qualities, and American financial guru Warren Buffett.