THE LONG HAUL

摘要

Chris Cole is keen on the idea of a journey as a metaphor for the lives of people and companies. It's an apt one, too, suggesting as it does hard going, difficult choices, enlightening discoveries. His own journey began in 1973 when he helped to form a four-strong firm called the William Sale Partnership; 33 years later it has grown into WSP, Britain's eighth biggest consultant -and in three years' time it plans to become a 10,000-strong, £750m-turnover empire. It has been quite a trip. Cole was very much the junior partner in 1973 - he was about 20 years younger than the other three - but he has lasted the course through a stock market listing, recession, recovery and 9/11. And for the past 19 years he has been leading his firm through this uncharted territory, either as managing director or chief executive, and the 58 year old's story of growth, growth and growth is a lesson to other ambitious firms.