Scottish businessman Calum Melville is a former director of Dundee FC and the current chief executive of Edison Group.
He started oil and gas service firm Grampian Test & Certification in 1990 with his parents, before buying them out for £6.6 million in 2001. The business grew from £7m turnover that year to £35m in 2007, with £8m in earnings and more than 350 employees.
The company was then sold to Cosalt for £33m, with Melville joining the board, leaving in 2010. Two years after that, he acquired Global Lifting and doubled the turnover to £12m, while quadrupling earnings, before selling up again.
For the last 15 years, Melville has built up a commercial and residential property portfolio, and last year began to formalise this under the Edison banner. Since then, the group has been acquisitive, recently buying Crown Architectural Systems, following deals for The Edinburgh Driveway Company and The Property Solutions Company.
Edison, which recently opened its new offices in Irvine, is currently investing around £1.2m in commercial property in Scotland, alongside £680,000 in residential property since July 2022.
Insider caught up with Melville to fire some more light-hearted questions at him...
What five words would friends or colleagues use to describe you?
Driven, focused, friendly, kind and caring.
If you could choose anyone, who would be your fantasy board members and why?
Bob Keller or Sir Iain Wood.
If you could choose anyone, who would be your fantasy dinner party guests and why?
Winston Churchill; cometh the hour cometh the man. To hear his stories of 1939 to 1945 would be remarkable.
What is your favourite way to unwind during time off?
I am not good at winding down, but when I do, supporting the foundation and causes I care about.
What is the best advice you’ve ever been given or what advice would you give to the next generation of business leaders?
Surround yourself with great people is the best advice I received. I would say the same to the next generation of business leaders and add - do it right every time, no exceptions.
If you were in charge of Scotland, what would you change and why?
The country is not business or entrepreneur friendly.
I would cut taxes, encourage inward investment, help long term unemployed back in to meaningful well-paid work, raise the minimum and living wage and forget the economically ruinous idea of independence.
What sport are you interested in/which sporting team do you follow?
Football and Aberdeen FC.
What was the first record you bought?
Elvis Presley's greatest hits - I still have it to this day.
What is your earliest childhood memory?
Falling off a ride-on peddle car in someone’s garden and splitting my forehead open. I was riding on the bonnet for some reason.
Describe a perfect day...
My perfect night is a long walk along Largs promenade.
Who would play you in the film of your life?
George Clooney of course.
What is your signature dish to cook?
Fillet stake - from AD Paton butcher in Largs - with boiled potatoes and fried onions.
If you could choose your last meal on Earth, what would it be?
My late mum’s French toast. I think it is the lovely memories of my mum rather than the French toast though, to be honest.
What is your karaoke song/party piece?
I Did It My Way by Elvis.
What is your favourite shop?
Moorings Knitwear in Largs - they do the best polo shirts and woollen jumpers in Scotland.
What is your favourite part of Scotland?
Scotland has so many beautiful places - but if I had to pick one, it would be Gleneagles and the surrounding area.
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