Peter Cairns embarked on his professional journey after graduating from university, venturing into the North Sea gas industry right after his studies. He recollects, "At 22, it was quite challenging, but it prepared me well for what lay ahead."
From the North Sea, he transitioned to a role as a financial controller on an oil pipeline project in Sudan. This experience paved the way for a decade of projects in remote places across Africa, South America, Indonesia and Asia. Destiny seemed to steer him towards Germany, where he eventually settled after working internationally for German companies. Gleeds approached him in 1989 to establish a German office, marking the beginning of a 34-year journey that has transformed Gleeds into a prominent German consultancy with six offices across the major cities.
Despite the decades that have passed, Peter's routine remains remarkably consistent, usually starting at 6 am, undertaking daily challenges in the office, and travelling extensively across Germany for client engagements and project meetings. He emphasises the importance of maintaining hands-on involvement in projects to stay sharp. Reflecting on Gleeds' growth over the years, Peter cherishes the relationships forged with colleagues across Gleeds' international network, describing it as a unique experience. His advice for newcomers echoes his own journey: seize opportunities to work across Gleeds' global offices, learn new skills and languages, and embrace new challenges – have no fear.
Don’t be afraid of going anywhere or taking on new roles or positions. If you do this for a number of years, your acquired skill sets, and experience will make you invaluable.
Beyond work, Peter pursues in his passion for sports, including golf, windsurfing and skiing. His unwavering motivation stems from a lifelong dedication to both his professional and sporting pursuits. When pondering which alternative career paths he could have taken, Peter's answer is:
I have no idea, but I can say that if I was given the chance, I would do exactly the same all over again.