The head of Recovery North and manager of Help for Heroes Phoenix House Recovery Centre is in this week's hotseat

What time do get up and what’s your morning routine?
I try and get up by 7am. I receive the most wonderful, loving greeting from Lola Burgoyne and Bell Phoenix (my two labradors). I enjoy a long shower. I absolutely enjoy food but often skip breakfast.

What is your perfect weekend?
I enjoy walking, eating and spending time with family. The weekend will usually combine these aspects and will invariably include Lola and Bell.

What was the last thing you did that scared you?
When I challenged (because it was my duty to do so) an armed pro-Russian militia soldier, who was most likely under the influence of something, while on an operation with the United Nations in Georgia.

Why do you work for a charity?
In my view helping another human being is the most rewarding thing that one can do in life. Working for a charity, such as Help for Heroes, allows you to be creative, responsive and deliberate in helping others who have in some way suffered in the course of their duty to the nation.

What’s your favourite film?
I am a fan of Bond, the Bourne movies and the Mission Impossible type features. You could also easily catch me watching a movie about the Romans and or Knights of the Round Table. Yet my favourites include the cartoons; The Lion King and Finding Nemo!

Working for a charity, such as Help for Heroes, allows you to be creative, responsive and deliberate in helping others who have in some way suffered in the course of their duty to the nation.

What advice would you give to your 18-year-old self?
To pursue a life that helps fulfil your dreams and ambitions but has a positive impact on others – have more fun, see the world.

Do charities have to do too much in society?
I think charities have existed, in some guise or other, since time immemorial. It is a paradox I suspect – if there is a need then they are not doing too much, they are doing what is needed.

What’s the worst job you’ve ever done?
As a younger me I have had many different types of jobs, but they were all character building! I cannot honestly say that there was a particularly bad job, just different types of jobs at different stages of life.

Is lunch a five-minute sandwich at your desk or do you find time for yourself?
My role requires me to enthuse others to work hard but also to ensure sustainability through mindfulness. This means encouraging people to take a break from their desks – which is not always possible. I try hard to keep a balance but often tend to have a working lunch but away from my desk.

What do you procrastinate over?
By nature I am very decisive. I actively seek responsibility and accountability and enjoy the authority that goes with it. I do reflect a lot but I do not see that as the same as procrastinating – that would be hugely frustrating.

If you were your boss would you like you?
I hope so, although my wife would have her own opinion on the subject!

What’s the most important quality of a chief executive?
The ability to inspire others to deliver on your behalf.

What’s your favourite - Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin?
I am on LinkedIn but without a profile, or a photo, I have tried Twitter a few times and there is simply too much going on when it comes to Facebook.

Are boards the strength of the third sector or a thorn in its side?
Boards help to provide appropriate scrutiny, assurances, governance and promote activities which are in accordance with the charities objectives and remit. The boards should be a thorn in a charity’s side but with the intent to poke for a positive result rather than become another layer of procrastinators, averse to operational risk.

Brian Denis Cox or Brian Edward Cox?
I am a huge fan of space and all matters scientific. I believe in time we will have people going backwards and forwards from Earth to Mars and the Moon, in spaceships that will be as common as the modern aircraft of today. I therefore lean towards the scientist.